In a highly contentious and deeply troubling incident, Jacqueline Marsaw, a staffer for Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson from Mississippi, was fired after making inflammatory comments on social media regarding the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Marsaw’s comments suggested that the shooter should “get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time.”
The incident unfolded shortly after the failed attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear. Tragically, the shooting resulted in the death of one rally attendee and critically wounded two others.
Marsaw, who worked as a field director for Rep. Thompson, posted several incendiary remarks on Facebook, including, “That’s what your hate speech got you!” and falsely claimed the incident was staged. She later deleted these posts after being instructed to do so by her manager.
In response to the backlash, Marsaw told the Natchez Democrat, “I got overwhelmed in the moment,” and emphasized her loyalty to the Democratic Party. Despite her attempts to mitigate the damage, her comments sparked outrage across social media and political circles.
The Mississippi GOP quickly called for her termination, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “@BennieGThompson should FIRE his field director for condoning the attempted assassination of President @realDonaldTrump!!!”
This sentiment was echoed by Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who emphasized the gravity of such comments from a congressional staffer.
By Sunday afternoon, Congressman Thompson confirmed Marsaw’s dismissal, as reported by Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie. This move came amidst a broader outcry from conservatives condemning left-leaning social media users who were making light of the assassination attempt and celebrating the incident in various distasteful ways.
This incident underscores the deepening political divide and the dangerous rhetoric that can emerge in heated political climates. The firing of Marsaw serves as a stark reminder of the need for responsible discourse and the consequences of inflammatory comments, especially from those in positions of political influence.
