Democratic Representative Dan Goldman sparked MAGA fury by calling for former President Donald Trump to be “eliminated.”
Goldman, who represents New York’s 10th Congressional District, discussed Trump’s alleged role in the January 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol building during an appearance on MSNBC‘s The Jen Psaki Show Sunday. A former prosecutor who worked on Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, Goldman has been a staunch critic of the former president’s handling of his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
He said Trump should never hold office again over his denial of the 2020 election, which critics say culminated in the Jan. 6 riot, but his choice of words sparked widespread condemnation.
“His rhetoric is really getting dangerous, more and more dangerous. And we saw what happened on January 6, when he uses inflammatory rhetoric now, and his recent Truth Social posts, is incredibly, incredibly scary for anyone that might be trying to work in government. It is just unquestionable at this point that that man cannot see public office again. He is not only unfit. He is destructive to our democracy, and he has to be eliminated,” Goldman said.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Goldman apologized for the remark in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Monday morning.
“Yesterday on TV, I mistakenly used the wrong word to express the importance for America that Donald Trump doesn’t become President again. While he must be defeated, I certainly wish no harm to him and do not condone political violence. I apologize for the poor choice of words,” he wrote.
Still, the comment sparked backlash from conservatives on social media.
Newsweek reached out to Goldman’s office and Trump’s campaign for comment via email.
“Leftist Congressman @RepDanGoldman says Trump “has to be eliminated.” In the least, Goldman should be investigated by the Secret Service for this threat,” posted Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
“Democrat Congressman Dan Goldman just said President Trump “has to be eliminated” while simultaneously ranting about his ‘dangerous rhetoric,'” posted conservative activist Benny Johnson.
“Time to Censure Dan Goldman for inciting violence against a President of the United States,” posted conservative commentator Rogan O’Handley.
Charlie Kirk posted: “If a Republican went on TV and said that a Democrat presidential candidate needed to be “eliminated” they’d be raided by the FBI within hours. Donald Trump is facing half a millennia in prison for saying people should ‘fight.'”
“Instead, Dan Goldman alludes to the assassination of Donald Trump and does so with zero consequences and zero fear of any consequences,” he posted.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
