Mississippi woman’s social media post about Trump shooting draws national attention
Published 5:43 am Sunday, July 14, 2024
A Mississippi woman who works for U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, found herself at the center of controversy after she made a post on social media that seemed to encourage the shooter at the Trump rally Saturday.
The Natchez Democrat newspaper reports that Jacqueline Marsaw, a case worker and field director for Thompson’s office in Adams, Amite, Franklin, and Wilkinson counties, made several posts on social media soon after the shooting at the Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Thompson, a Democrat, represents Mississippi’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the former chairman of the House Jan. 6 Select Committee.
Former President Donald Trump was injured Saturday, and one attendee was killed and another person critically wounded when a shooter opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter is also dead. Law enforcement officials are calling the shooting an assassination attempt.
“I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time ooops that wasn’t me talking,” was one of the posts Marsaw made on her personal Facebook page.
Others quickly shared Marsaw’s post, including Russ Latino, president of Empower Mississippi and founder of the Magnolia Tribune Institute, a political news publication. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz also shared the post on X, calling it “Horrifying.”
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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
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Marsaw said she removed the post after being asked by a manager on Thompson’s staff, whom she would not name.
“I got overwhelmed in the moment,” Marsaw told the newspaper. “I am a diehard Democrat.”
She said her post was meant for its comic value and not to be taken seriously.
Thompson issued a statement on X about the shooting shortly after it happened. “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,” Thompson wrote.
Thompson was not available for comment Saturday night.