A social media post by the New Hampshire Libertarian Party has ignited a firestorm of criticism from across the political spectrum.
According to The Daily Beast, the party shared a message on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting that anyone who assassinated Vice President Kamala Harris would be considered "an American hero." The post was subsequently deleted, but not before drawing widespread condemnation.
The party's explanation for removing the post only fueled further controversy. They claimed the deletion was due to the platform's rules, lamenting restrictions on free speech even on a "'free speech' website." This response appeared to show little remorse for the content of the original message.
Leaders from both major parties in New Hampshire were quick to condemn the Libertarian Party's actions.
Raymond Buckley, the New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman, expressed his outrage on X, stating that the post must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. He emphasized that political violence is never acceptable and described the statement as "disgusting, dangerous and wrong."
Chris Ager, the New Hampshire Republican Party chair, echoed these sentiments. He also took to X to denounce the comments, asserting that there is absolutely no room for this type of dialogue in political discourse.
Chase Oliver, the Libertarian Party's nominee for president, distanced himself and the party's principles from the controversial post.
Oliver stated on X that he "100% condemn[s] the statement from LPNH regarding Kamala Harris." He went on to emphasize that Libertarians are dedicated to the principle of non-aggression and peaceful conflict resolution, noting that this commitment is part of attaining party membership.
The controversial post did not go unnoticed by authorities, with several X users reporting it to law enforcement agencies.
One user specifically flagged the archived post to the FBI and Secret Service, calling for an investigation. This action prompted a response from the New Hampshire Libertarian Party, which appeared to defend its stance by referencing gun rights.
The timing of this incident is particularly sensitive, coming in the wake of an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday. This context has heightened concerns about political violence and threats against public officials.
The New Hampshire Libertarian Party's controversial post about Vice President Kamala Harris has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders across party lines. The party's subsequent responses have only intensified the backlash.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders in New Hampshire have strongly denounced the post, emphasizing that political violence is never acceptable. The incident has also led to reports being made to law enforcement agencies, highlighting the serious nature of such threats against public officials.
