Valentina Gomez is no stranger to controversy, we previously reported on her visit to a Houston mosque, where she told “terrorists to leave the USA”, Republican congressional candidate Valentina Gomez Noriega is once again at the centre of controversy. This time, she appears in a new campaign video wielding a flamethrower and burning a Qur’an, while unverified claims circulate online alleging she travelled to Israel on a fully funded trip paid for by outside supporters.
A Pattern of Provocation
The video, filmed in what looks like an open Texas field, shows Gomez declaring, “Your daughters will be raped and your sons beheaded unless we stop Islam once and for all. America is a Christian nation.”
It quickly spread across social platforms, drawing condemnation from inter-faith groups and cautious silence from most state Republicans.
I don't bite my tongue when it comes to defending children & Jesus Christ.
— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) October 16, 2025
Help me get to Congress so we can END islam in America.
Americans Against Jihadhttps://t.co/Eh9rZQljpL pic.twitter.com/ock7es7hkR
Gomez has since defended the act as “a statement of faith,” describing herself as “a Christian patriot standing against evil.” Critics, however, say her language borders on incitement and risks fuelling hostility toward Muslim Americans. It is important to note that the Muslim population of Texas is between 1.1% to 1.68% of the state population.
This is not Gomez’s first attempt to court national attention. In December 2024, she made headlines for confronting worshippers inside a Houston mosque, an encounter she later described as “a warning to radicals.” That episode marked the start of her online notoriety and shaped her current persona: an anti-establishment conservative challenging both “Islamic influence” and what she calls “weak Republican elites.”
What’s New: A Flamethrower and a Flight to Israel
Alongside her latest video, new claims have emerged that Gomez recently visited Israel on a trip “fully paid” by outside sponsors.
The allegation first appeared on X (formerly Twitter), with posts suggesting pro-Israel donors covered her travel expenses as part of an informal “Christian-Zionist outreach.”
The Israel shill Valentina Gomez is in Israel & allegedly, scheduled to meet Netanyahu
— GenXGirl (@GenXGirl1994) October 19, 2025
– Who paid for her trip
– Who writes her posts
She perpetuates fear about a Muslim takeover & champions bombing all of the ME. Israel’s study shows their approval in the US increases when… pic.twitter.com/DRAMG7aTDj
So far, no official travel disclosures or financial filings corroborate the claim. Federal Election Commission (FEC) records for her 2026 campaign, which list roughly $27,700 raised and $12,400 cash on hand as of September 2025, show no mention of foreign travel or outside reimbursements.
Gomez herself has not publicly confirmed or denied the trip. Her campaign website contains no mention of Israel, and no photographs or statements have surfaced independently verifying the visit.
Thank you to the Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz for welcoming me, a Christian into the Holiest Place in the world.
— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) October 21, 2025
It was a blessing being able to speak to the little girls whose fathers were murdered by Hamas terrorists.
Jews & Christians are united against terrorism. pic.twitter.com/8YBL8zyCRr
Political observers note that if true, such a trip could invite scrutiny under campaign-finance rules. But if unfounded, the rumour may be another example of how fringe candidates attract attention through half-verified online narratives.
What She Says
Gomez portrays herself as a defender of the “American way of life.” In recent social-media posts, she wrote: “I’m not anti-anyone. I’m pro-America. If standing up for Christian values makes me extreme, then I embrace it.”She has also framed her run as a spiritual mission:
“America has a covenant with God. I’m here to make sure we don’t break it.”
I thought everyone knew who this Israel 1st Zionist is but apparently some don’t. Search Valentina Gomez.
— GenXGirl (@GenXGirl1994) October 12, 2025
If this is your idea of what our country should be like, kindly unfollow because my idea of America 1st is not chaos on the streets & becoming bigger b*tches for Israel https://t.co/HtFyMbHlkz pic.twitter.com/RK5DeJsMpT
Gomez filed to contest Texas’s 31st Congressional District, a seat long held by Rep. John Carter. Earlier this year, she had hinted at challenging Rep. Dan Crenshaw, before switching districts, later telling reporters, “You heard what you wanted to hear.”
What Others Are Saying
Civil-rights and community groups have condemned Gomez’s rhetoric. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) called her earlier statements about “executing undocumented immigrants” “dehumanising and dangerous.”
Editorials in the Austin American-Statesman and San Antonio Express-News described her recent video as “provocation disguised as patriotism,” warning that it risks normalising intolerance in local politics.
Even within conservative media, reactions have been mixed. Some right-wing influencers hailed her as a “fighter for Christian America,” while several Texas GOP strategists privately expressed concern that her stunts could “overshadow serious Republican candidates” in the 2026 cycle.
A Candidate Without a Machine
Despite her online reach, Gomez’s campaign remains modest. Her filings list no major donors, consultants, or communications staff. She appears to rely largely on personal funds and viral videos to maintain visibility. Political analyst Dr. Evelyn Morris of the University of Texas notes that Gomez “illustrates a shift in American campaigning.”
“You no longer need a ground game, you need a spectacle,” Morris said. “For some voters, confrontation itself becomes credibility.”
So, Why Does It Matter?
Whether the Israel-trip claim will develop into a verifiable story remains unclear. For now, it exists in the same ecosystem that sustains Gomez’s brand, a mix of symbolism, faith, and outrage that travels faster online than fact-checking can catch up.
Within Texas political circles, the question is less about whether she can win and more about how far the boundaries of campaign speech can stretch before institutions or voters, push back.
For Valentina Gomez, every controversy seems to confirm her conviction: that she is fighting a spiritual war as much as a political one. Whether that message resonates beyond social media will be tested in the months ahead.
