Congressman Posts Old Shooting Video Amid Vacation Controversy

Rep. John James shares target practice footage to distract from island getaway during government shutdown.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:50pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting of a handgun firing repeatedly, the barrel and muzzle flashes blurred and repeated in overlapping geometric shapes, conceptually representing the political maneuvering behind the congressman's social media post.A congressman's attempt to distract from his tropical vacation with an old video of him firing guns exposes the political gamesmanship of modern politics.Today in Detroit

Congressman John James has posted an old video of himself firing guns at a shooting range, seemingly in an attempt to distract from criticism over his vacation in Turks & Caicos during the ongoing government shutdown. The video, originally published 8 months ago, shows James unloading handguns and assault rifles on targets and doing pullups, with the lawmaker claiming he went shooting with a local outlet. However, the timing of the repost has raised eyebrows, as James is currently running for governor in his home state of Michigan.

Why it matters

The reposting of the shooting video appears to be a political tactic by Congressman James to change the narrative away from his island vacation during a government shutdown, which has drawn criticism from constituents. This type of political maneuvering raises questions about transparency and accountability for elected officials.

The details

Congressman John James posted a video of himself firing various firearms at a shooting range, claiming he went out with the local outlet 'Michigan Enjoyer'. However, the video was originally published 8 months ago, in August 2025, in an article titled 'John James Wants to Bring Manliness Back to Michigan'. The timing of the repost comes as James is facing backlash for vacationing in Turks & Caicos during the ongoing government shutdown.

  • The original shooting video was published in August 2025.
  • Congressman James reposted the video on April 3, 2026, amid criticism over his vacation during the government shutdown.

The players

Congressman John James

A Republican congressman from Michigan who is currently running for governor in his home state.

The Michigan Enjoyer

A local media outlet that originally published the video of Congressman James at a shooting range in August 2025.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the lengths some politicians will go to distract from controversies and shape their public image, even if it means recycling old content. It raises questions about transparency and accountability for elected officials, especially during times of crisis when constituents expect their representatives to be focused on governing.