Michigan GOP candidate deleted posts implying Trump critics be executed
CNN reviewed 13,000 archived posts showing years of inflammatory and conspiratorial rhetoric before Thomas Smith deleted his accounts.
- CNN's KFile reviewed 13,000 archived posts from Michigan GOP nominee Thomas Smith's deleted accounts, uncovering a yearslong pattern of inflammatory rhetoric including repeated accusations of treason against political figures.
- Smith, a 75-year-old retired General Motors employee, became the Republican nominee last month after an improbable primary victory in Michigan's 8th Congressional District despite suspending his campaign before Election Day.
- Posts from his JarHeadSalsa salsa business account featured birther-style conspiracy theories targeting former President Barack Obama and inflammatory rhetoric describing Islam as "a cancer" with no place in America.
- The Cook Political Report shifted the race from "lean Democratic" to "likely Democratic" following the revelations, as Smith faces incumbent Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in a district Trump carried by 3 points in 2024.
- Smith's campaign has since been overhauled with a polished website emphasizing "The Constitution, Faith, Freedom," even as his online record confirms attendance at President Trump's January 6, 2021, "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington.
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NEW FROM CNN’s KFILE: Thomas Smith’s business account “amplified a post implying execution for alleged Trump ‘traitors’”
“Smith repeatedly identified himself by name on both JarHeadSalsa accounts as the operator.” New reporting from CNN details how Thomas Smith’s business Twitter account “amplif[ied] a post that appeared to raise the possibility of the death penalty for political opponents of President Donald Trump.” CNN reports that Smith reposted a message addressed to Trump saying […]
GOP nominee scrubbed thousands of posts — then his treason rhetoric surfaced anyway
Thomas Smith, the Republican nominee for a competitive Michigan congressional seat, deleted social media accounts containing thousands of posts revealing years of inflammatory and conspiratorial rhetoric, according to a new analysis.The 75-year-old retired General Motors employee and Flint-area smal...
GOP nominee demanded execution of Trump foes in newly uncovered posts
In early August, GOP voters in Michigan's 8th Congressional District defied President Donald Trump when they nominated retired General Motors engineer Thomas Smith over the Trump-backed Amir Hassan. The nomination drew increased scrutiny of Smith's background, and according to CNN's Andrew Kaczynski, the Flint, Michigan-based business owner has a long history of making extreme statements. Kaczynski, in a KFile report for CNN, explains, "A Republ…
Tom Smith Deleted 1000s of 'Far-Right' Social Media Posts
Michigan GOP Congressional nominee Thomas Smith deleted or archived 13,000 posts on social media that contained "far-right" rhetoric, CNN reported. The post K-File Reveals GOP Congressional Nominee Deleted Social Media Posts Calling for Death Penalty for Trump Opponents first appeared on Mediaite.
Michigan GOP candidate deleted posts implying Trump critics be executed
A Republican congressional nominee in a closely divided Michigan district deleted social media accounts containing tens of thousands of posts that include a yearslong pattern of inflammatory and conspiratorial rhetoric.
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