Whitmer Accused of ‘Encouraging Assassination Attempts' Against Trump in TV Message
The digits '8645' in bubble letters could be seen by the Democrat governor
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The Trump campaign accused Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of encouraging assassination attempts on President Donald Trump after displaying “8645” in the background of a national television interview Sunday.
The Democratic governor spoke from Lansing, Mich., about her state’s COVID-19 restrictions and attacked Trump's response to the pandemic.
In the back, the digits “8645” in bubble letters could be seen by a house plant on a coffee table behind her.
One of the Trump campaign's verified Twitter accounts responded to the interview.
“Governor Gretchen Whitmer displayed an '86 45' sign during her TV appearance,” Trump War Room tweeted.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer displayed an "86 45" sign during her TV appearance.
— Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2020
86 can be shorthand for killing someone.
Whitmer is encouraging assassination attempts against President Trump just weeks after someone sent a ricin-laced package to the White House. pic.twitter.com/GzvtrjH40A
“86 can be shorthand for killing someone.”
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"Whitmer is encouraging assassination attempts against President Trump just weeks after someone sent a ricin-laced package to the White House,” the account wrote.
Deputy digital and creative director for Whitmer, Tori Saylor, praising the governor for placing the digits “8645” in the background
The tweet read:
"Bright and beautiful. Nothing but respect. RBG. 8645. Nice plant, too. 10/10," before tagging the governor.
Bright and beautiful. Nothing but respect. RBG. 8645. Nice plant, too. 10/10 @GovWhitmer pic.twitter.com/b6DAiy9UKd
— Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) October 18, 2020
Though it was unclear what the numbers meant to communicate, the term “86” is slang for canceling someone, killing someone, or ejecting someone, sometimes from a bar or restaurant.
Also, Trump is the 45th president of the United States.
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The deputy national press secretary for the Trump campaign said:
“By Gretchen Whitmer’s own standard, displaying something encouraging people to ‘86’, the President is employing dangerous rhetoric.”
Whitmer reacted to a video clip showing Trump telling a crowd at a rally in Muskegon, Mich., on Saturday, “you gotta get your governor to open up your state,” adding “you gotta get your schools open.”
The crowd then chanted, “Lock her up,” referring to Whitmer, before Trump added, “Lock them all up.”
“It's incredibly disturbing that the President of the United States — 10 days after a plot to kidnap, put me on trial, and execute me — 10 days after that was uncovered, the president is at it again and inspiring, incentivizing and inciting this kind of domestic terrorism,” Whitmer responded to the clip.
“It is wrong. It has got to end – not just for me and my family but for public servants everywhere who are doing their jobs and trying to protect their fellow Americans.”
Saylor also tweeted a similar video from Trump’s campaign rally, writing:
“I am the Governor's Deputy Digital Director. I see everything that is said about and to her online. Every single time the President does this at a rally, the violent rhetoric towards her immediately escalates on social media. It has to stop. It just has to.”
I am the Governor's Deputy Digital Director. I see everything that is said about and to her online.
— Tori Saylor (@tori_saylor) October 17, 2020
Every single time the President does this at a rally, the violent rhetoric towards her immediately escalates on social media.
It has to stop. It just has to. https://t.co/eupQXzGydN
