There are times when it’s wholly appropriate for a First Lady to speak out on issues that concern the nation. As a matter of fact, a presidential spouse can often reach a larger audience than a head of state, if only because they don’t speak as often.
But that isn’t the case with remarks First Lady Melania Trump made Friday on Twitter regarding the outpouring of rage on the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota, regarding the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer who placed his knee on the victim’s throat for what we know now was almost nine minutes.
Mrs. Trump posted this on her Twitter account:
Our country allows for peaceful protests, but there is no reason for violence. I’ve seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can’t stop now. My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. As a nation, let’s focus on peace, prayers & healing.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 29, 2020
That’s all well and good, but keep in mind the tweet comes just a few hours after her husband suggested shooting looters in Minneapolis. The president made that statement on Twitter, too, and was so inflammatory that the social media platform hid it and placed restrictions on any retweeting of the post. Here’s a screenshot of Trump’s tweet, along with the notice Twitter placed on it:
Given that hateful tweet, Melania’s saying there’s “no reason for violence” rang incredibly hollow and tone-deaf for many, and they let her know it in no uncertain terms:
Like kneeling during the national anthem? That kind of peaceful protest? https://t.co/zaeHTrCont
— Janet Johnson (@JJohnsonLaw) May 29, 2020
Trump attacks black people no matter what they do
Trump & Melania are racists
Violent, dangerous racists pic.twitter.com/dsKpG19vPr
— ☇RiotWomenn☇ (@riotwomennn) May 29, 2020
Murdered for resisting suffocation. Every issue is simple; right versus wrong begins with the right to breathe
National Guard should arrest murderers and terrorists. If Kent State is revisited Trump should be arrested for inciting murder
— Louis D. Thorpe (@loudthorpe) May 29, 2020
Aaaand of course. Every single time things go to hell, they trot Melania out to say the opposite of what Trump has been saying. They do it to troll us and “trigger the libs.” Every fuckin time. pic.twitter.com/iPLl6hh5YH
— Bigly Nasty 🏠 (@GeeJustG) May 29, 2020
There’s no need for violence, Mrs. Trump? Wonder if you’d feel that way if someone you loved was pleading “I can’t breathe” and was slowly strangled to death by a cop. Pretty safe to bet you’d be outraged and calling for blood. So spare us your hypocrisy. Just sit down right over there and instead of “be best,” just “be quiet.”
Mrs Trump doesn’t acknowledge the public these days just ignores the press corp usually. I have to wonder which thugs trump is referring too in his statement. Tired of this man inciting and igniting the flames of his threatening behavior as a leader of the so called fast becoming no longer FREE WORLD . Tired of the trump enterprise of threats and fear mongering. Also tired of those young wannbe slick chicks that parade out to the press these days with more trump chuckles.