A Texas congressman allegedly targeted for assassination by a radicalized teenager says the threat will not force him to abandon his opposition to radical Islam. Rep. Keith Self, a conservative Republican, discussed the alleged plot during an appearance on NewsNation’s “CUOMO.”

The unnamed 17-year-old suspect is from McKinney, Texas, and allegedly sought to kill Self. The congressman has pushed to ban Sharia law and halt a mosque project in the Dallas area.

Federal authorities arrested the juvenile early this month before the suspect could carry out an attack during a planned event, according to published reports. Federal agents had been monitoring the teenager, who had been radicalized.

The arrest prevented the alleged plot from reaching the planned event. Self responded publicly by making clear that threats, insults, and potentially worse consequences would not persuade him to retreat from his stated position.

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“Preserving our constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting the costs that come with it—name-calling, threats, and worse,” Self said Wednesday on the social media platform X.

Self expanded on that message Thursday during his “CUOMO” appearance. He said his effort to confront radical Islam also serves to protect Muslim families that want to assimilate into American culture.

His argument focused on what could happen to those families if Islamic radicals gained authority through local government institutions. Self specifically pointed to school boards, city councils, and commissioners courts while describing the threat he sees.

“If the Jihadis take control — which they’re trying to do through the school boards, city councils, commissioners courts — then those families who want to assimilate would be put in a terrible position of either submitting or be considered apostates under penalty of death,” the congressman said.

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Self did not soften his assessment after the arrest. Instead, he described Islamic extremism as “one of two existential threats to our Constitution and our way of life.”

The congressman then identified the two issues he considers existential dangers. “One being the national debt and two being the rapid rise of Islam,” he added.

Federal investigators reportedly believe the suspect accused of targeting Self was also planning a separate attack inspired by ISIS. The reported second plan added another serious dimension to the allegations surrounding the unnamed juvenile.

Self’s public comments tied the alleged assassination plot directly to the political and cultural fight he has chosen to pursue. Rather than stepping away from that fight, he portrayed the danger as one of the costs of defending the constitutional republic from radical Islam.

The Texas Republican is seeking a third term in the Nov. 3 midterm election. He also helped found the “Sharia-Free America Caucus,” placing opposition to Sharia law among the most visible elements of his political agenda.

The alleged plot arrives as Self continues campaigning on the issues that apparently made him a target. His response has been blunt: An arrest tied to a reported assassination plan will not change his stance, silence his warnings, or drive him away from the debate.

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