Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne says remarks she made during an online forum that were recently broadcast on Fox News program were misinterpreted.

During the brief video segment played on Fox, Axne appears to be commenting on the recent uproar over mask mandates in schools and she’s heard suggesting the situation is a “hot mess.”

State and national Republican groups have criticized Axne’s remarks on the Fox video, in which she’s heard saying the Christian right uses the cross like a political weapon. A spokesman for the Iowa G-O-P called the remark disgusting. The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition says Axne is out of step with the overwhelmingly Christian culture in Iowa.