A staffer for Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) is “no longer” employed with him after she appeared to express disappointment that former President Donald Trump survived the assassination attempt at his Saturday rally in Pennsylvania.
Jacqueline Marsaw, who listed her job as a field director for Thompson on her Facebook profile, reportedly wrote, “I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time ooops [sic] that wasn’t me talking.”
A field director for Congressman @BennieGThompson (who headed the Jan. 6th Commission & recently proposed legislation to remove Trump’s Secret Service detail), wishing Trump’s assassin had better aim on social media. pic.twitter.com/vQTptynYBK
— Russ Latino (@RussLatino) July 14, 2024
“That’s what your hate speech got you!!,” she continued, in posts screenshotted by Russ Latino of the Magnolia Tribune:
Justifying the assassination attempt. pic.twitter.com/KBNYmy5vls
— Russ Latino (@RussLatino) July 14, 2024
“Couldn’t happened to a nicer fellow but was it staged,” Marsaw wrote in a follow-up post, shared by Matthew Hurtt of the Leadership Institute.
“This is my last post, Trump supporters tried to come for me and I had to block them but yet y’all can’t see the wrong that he does.”
She continued. pic.twitter.com/WaDOhNtf20
— Matthew Hurtt (@matthewhurtt) July 14, 2024
Marsaw’s posts have since been deleted or set to private after going viral.
After facing backlash for the words of his field director, Thompson provided a statement to Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie:
Rep THOMPSON has fired this staffer --
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) July 14, 2024
“I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment.” https://t.co/1f3ndN4D3y
“I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment,” the congressman said.
Following 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks’ attempt on Trump’s life, Thompson posted: “There is no room in American democracy for political violence. I am grateful for law enforcement’s fast response to this incident. I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.”
There is no room in American democracy for political violence. I am grateful for law enforcement’s fast response to this incident.
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) July 13, 2024
I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.
However, X users were quick to point out that the Mississippi Democrat, who was the leader of then-Speaker Pelosi’s (D-CA) now-defunct January 6 Select Committee, introduced legislation in April to take away Trump’s Secret Service protection upon a conviction.
Leading Democrats introduced legislation intended to strip President Trump of Secret Service protection.
— Alex Pfeiffer (@__Pfeiffer) July 13, 2024
They did that at the same time as Joe Biden called President Trump a "dictator," and Nancy Pelosi said President Trump "must be stopped." pic.twitter.com/x0L5Lq93bz
Donald Trump Jr. reacted to the news of his father being shot in the ear at the rally in Butler, writing, “Remember, if @BennieGThompson and the Democrats got their way, my dad would be dead right now.”
“Don’t let them memory hole it,” the younger Trump added:
Remember, if @BennieGThompson and the Democrats got their way, my dad would be dead right now. Don't let them memory hole it. pic.twitter.com/KUdYx1AIAs
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 14, 2024