Democratic Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee claimed Monday the moon is made out of gases during a solar eclipse viewing event at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Texas.

Lee, the former Ranking Member on the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, also stated that the sun is  “too hot” and “almost impossible” for humans to get “near”  the sun.

WATCH:

Congresswoman/Astrophysicist Sheila Jackson Lee tells Americans the moon is made out of “gases” and the sun is “almost” too hot for us to go near.

Here is your elected leadership, America. Don't wonder why the country is going to hell. This is why.pic.twitter.com/w9sEVgDb2q

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) April 9, 2024

“A full moon is a complete, rounded circle,” Lee said during the event. ” The question is how could we live on the moon? Are the gases such that we can do that?”

Lee’s statements received some scathing criticism on social media. Michael Barry, a Houston-area talk show host, said, “Imagine you’re in high school and the speaker on the day of the eclipse is . . . Sheila Jackson Lee. Enjoy these pearls of wisdom from this national treasure.”

Imagine you're in high school and the speaker on the day of the eclipse is . . . Sheila Jackson Lee. Enjoy these pearls of wisdom from this national treasure. https://t.co/xkr6H175Gu

— Michael Berry (@MichaelBerrySho) April 9, 2024

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee responds to backlash after saying moon is mostly made up of gases

“Obviously, I misspoke and meant to say the sun, but as usual, Republicans are focused on stupid things instead of stuff that really matters,” Lee wrote on X. “What can I say though, foolish thinkers lust for stupidity.”