Florida Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna dismissed claims that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner tried to smack her butt at the Republican National Convention in Dallas. A video of Luna entering the venue went viral after viewers noted Turner’s open palm swinging back as he passed her, though no contact was made. Luna did not react at the time; she smiled and waved to the cheering crowd.
After the event, Luna was approached by MeidasTouch’s Pablo Manriquez on the Capitol steps to “clear the air.” She replied that she had not noticed the gesture until afterward and suggested it might have been a high‑five, noting Turner’s football background. She stated, “There was no contact. I think he’s obviously a former football player and maybe he went for a high five.”
Turner, a former NFL cornerback for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos, served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017 and later became executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council under President Trump. The incident sparked debate among commentators, with journalist Sam Stein describing the motion as “about to slap her a**” and Catherine Rampell offering that it likely was an awkward low‑five. Some observers on X agreed, noting Turner stopped himself from striking her.
The controversy unfolded amid a convention already fraught with issues, including a glitching screen during Trump’s address, empty seats in the 21,000‑seat arena, and surprise appearances by Senator John Fetterman and Vice President J.D. Vance. The event also featured speeches from South Carolina Republican Tim Scott and the unofficial coronation of Vance as Trump’s successor in waiting.
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