Rep. Jen Kiggans agreed with a radio host who told Hakeem Jeffries (House Minority Leader and first Black American to lead a Congressional party) to get his 'cotton-picking hands' off Virginia — a remark widely recognized as invoking slavery-era language. Kiggans later denied condoning the language but confirmed agreement with the host's broader point about Jeffries's Virginia involvement. Takei characterizes the exchange as racially charged — the phrase 'cotton-picking' carries historical weight as a slavery reference, making the context more significant than the literal meaning of the words.