When Governor Whitmer worked to protect her state from a deadly pandemic, President Trump issued a call to "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!"
That call was heard.
He's giving oxygen to the bigotry and hate we see on the march in our country — and we have to stop it.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 9, 2020
Biden says Trump sparked ‘bigotry and hate’ behind Whitmer plot
Joe Biden accused Donald Trump on Thursday of fanning the flames of “bigotry and hate” after a plot to kidnap the Democratic governor of Michigan was thwarted by law enforcement.
The Democratic presidential nominee, writing on Twitter, suggested Trump’s prior call to “liberate Michigan” during a state-wide pandemic lockdown partly inspired the plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“When Governor Whitmer worked to protect her state from a deadly pandemic, President Trump issued a call to ‘LIBERATE MICHIGAN’!” Biden wrote in the tweet.
“That call was heard. He’s giving oxygen to the bigotry and hate we see on the march in our country — and we have to stop it,” he added.
Authorities said Thursday that they arrested a number of men linked to two militia groups in Michigan who were plotting to kidnap the Gov. Whitmer.
After the plot was discovered, Whitmer blasted Trump for what she said was his refusal to condemn white supremacy and extremism in the US.
“Our head of state has spent the past seven months denying science, ignoring his own health experts, stoking distrust, fomenting anger and giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division,” she said.
After the criticism, Trump responded by urging Whitmer to “open” Michigan from coronavirus lockdown restrictions.