Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has accused Donald Trump of “inspiring and incentivising domestic terrorism” after the president responded to chants of “Lock her up!” at a rally in Muskegon. The chants came just 10 days after a plot to kidnap and possibly kill Whitmer over coronavirus lockdown measures was foiled by the FBI.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Whitmer described the president’s behaviour as “incredibly disturbing”. She said: “It is wrong. It’s got to end. It is dangerous not just for me and my family, but for public servants everywhere who are doing their jobs and trying to protect their fellow Americans.”
At the rally, Trump targeted Whitmer several times, criticising state coronavirus rules and calling the governor “dishonest”. He made light of the kidnapping plot, telling supporters: “They said she was threatened. And she blamed me. Hopefully you’ll be sending her packing pretty soon.”
Lara Trump, a campaign surrogate for her father-in-law, defended the president, telling CNN’s State of the Union that he was “having fun at a Trump rally” and was not encouraging threats. However, Whitmer’s digital director, Tori Saylor, noted that violent rhetoric towards the governor escalates on social media every time the president does this.
Republican Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield also condemned the chants, stating: “Trump didn’t chant ‘lock her up’ about our governor. But others did and it was wrong. She was literally just targeted. Let’s debate differences. Let’s win elections. But not that.”
Michigan reported 1,791 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, bringing its seven-day total past 10,000, a record. Democratic nominee Joe Biden criticised Trump’s response, saying: “All President Trump is offering the people of Michigan is more lies and distractions.”
