During an MSNBC interview on Sunday, Delegate Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, found herself in hot water after appearing to say former President Donald Trump "needs to be shot." While discussing the classified documents investigation surrounding Trump, Plaskett seemingly made the remark before quickly attempting to correct herself, adding "stopped."
Plaskett's full statement leading up to the controversial comment addressed her concerns about Trump's possession of classified information: "Having Trump not only having the codes but now having the classified information for Americans and being able to put that out and share it in his resort with anyone and everything who comes through should be terrifying to all Americans."
The incident quickly gained traction on social media platforms like Twitter, where users expressed varying reactions. Some called for Plaskett's removal from office, while others dismissed it as a "Freudian slip." Conservative commentator Steve Guest tweeted, "Imagine the outrage if a Republican said this about a Democrat." Another user questioned Plaskett's ability to handle public speaking given her position, stating, "This is a direct threat to President Trump and someone needs to investigate. Plaskett needs to be removed immediately. That’s not a slip of the tongue. She’s an adult. She should be able to handle public speaking with her position."
Ryan Fournier, founder of Students for Trump, echoed the sentiment with a "Lock her up!" tweet. This incident comes on the heels of recent polls suggesting increased support for Trump within the GOP following his indictment related to the classified documents.
Elsewhere in the interview, Plaskett affirmed Trump's right to due process, stating he "will have his day in court." She highlighted the indictment coming from a grand jury in "a red state," emphasizing that they found sufficient probable cause for Trump to stand trial.
Plaskett's history of opposition to Trump includes her role as an impeachment manager in 2021, where she argued Trump was "singularly responsible" for the January 6th Capitol riot. Despite her efforts, Trump was acquitted. Fox News Digital reported that Plaskett did not respond to their request for comment.
