The Internet Explodes With Memes After Rep. Jamaal Bowman Pulls Capitol Building Fire Alarm Amid House Vote

New York District Representative Jamaal Bowman found himself in hot water recently after CCTV cameras in the Capitol office building spotted him pulling a fire alarm amid a vote to stop the federal government from shutting down.

While Bowman insists that the incident was an accident, the news nevertheless prompted Republicans and others online to make memes, many likening the incident to the January 6th insurrection.

Republican and Speaker of the House Kevin Mccarthy drew comparisons between Bowman's actions and the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol, saying that the House Ethics Committee should take the pulled fire alarm "seriously" and adding that the incident "should not go without punishment."

According to NBC News, Capitol police officers were given a screengrab from security footage to determine who pulled the fire alarm ahead of the vote to keep the government open on Saturday.

In a statement released soon after the incident, Bowman clarified the motivations behind his actions, chalking down the incident to him mistaking the alarm for an automatic door button.

"Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open," the statement read. "I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused.

Nevertheless, some Republicans reacted to the news by sharing memes about Bowman's bungle, likening his actions to the controversial events on January 6th, 2021, while others poked fun at his excuse or the incident in general.

For example, X user @magills_ posted a joke about Bowman mistaking the fire alarm for an "open door" button, while X user @MidnightMitch drew comparisons between Bowman's actions and Representative Lauren Boebert's recent Beetlejuice controversy.