During a live segment on MSNBC, Democrat Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett made a concerning statement, seemingly suggesting that former President Trump “needs to be shot” while discussing the investigation into his handling of classified documents. Plaskett, who represents a nonvoting U.S. territory, criticized Trump’s possession of classified information and the potential sharing of it at his resort. She quickly attempted to correct herself by adding “stopped,” but the video of her statement went viral on social media, with many expressing concern and calling for her removal from office.
Conservative communicator Steve Guest highlighted the double standard in his tweet, imagining the outrage if a Republican had made a similar statement about a Democrat. Others, like Jim Hanson, questioned whether Plaskett’s slip of the tongue revealed her true thoughts. Calls for investigation and her immediate removal from office echoed on Twitter, with users asserting that her comment was not a mere mistake but a serious threat against the former president.
Despite Plaskett’s claim that Trump possessing classified documents is “terrifying to all Americans,” recent polls indicate that the former president has gained support within the GOP after being indicted for alleged mishandling of classified information. Plaskett also mentioned that Trump will have his day in court, referring to his plea of not guilty to 37 federal charges related to the classified documents probe. She highlighted that the indictment came from individual Americans residing in South Florida, a red state, who found probable cause for the charges.
Plaskett’s strong opposition to Trump is well-known, as she served as an impeachment manager during the 2021 case against him, arguing that he was solely responsible for the Capitol riot on January 6th. However, despite her efforts, Trump was acquitted in the second impeachment trial in February 2021. The recent slip of the tongue by Plaskett has raised concerns about her impartiality and ability to handle public speaking as a public official.
