President Trump on Thursday night criticized Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, while denouncing any “extreme violence” in America, hours after authorities arrested a number of militia members in the state who were plotting to kidnap her.
Trump, writing on Twitter, said he expected Whitmer to thank him because the Justice Department helped arrest the plotters — but instead, he claimed, she suggested he is a racist.
“My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan,” Trump wrote in a series of tweets.
“Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist—while Biden and Democrats refuse to condemn Antifa, Anarchists, Looters and Mobs that burn down Democrat run cities I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence.”
He added: “Defending ALL Americans, even those who oppose and attack me, is what I will always do as your President! Governor Whitmer—open up your state, open up your schools, and open up your churches!”
After authorities announced the arrests of 13 men, some of whom are linked to a shadowy militia group called the “Wolverine Watchmen,” in the kidnapping plot, Whitmer blasted Trump for what she said was his refusal to condemn white supremacy
“Our head of state has spent the past seven months denying science, ignoring his own health experts, stoking distrust, fomenting anger and giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division,” she said.
Whitmer also said Trump “stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups,” referring to him telling members of the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” at the first presidential debate.
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” Whitmer added.
https://nypost.com/2020/10/08/trump-rips-michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-denounces-violence/