President Donald Trump on Friday insisted the armed protestors who took over Michigan's statehouse are "very good people" and called on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer to negotiate with them.
On Thursday for hours a reported 400-700 mostly white men, many heavily armed, appearing as militia members, endangered statehouse workers, including state police officers and Sergeants at Arms as they ignored social distancing guidelines, wore no masks, and jammed themselves shoulder-to-shoulder inside the capitol building to protest Governor Gretchen Whitmer's policies designed to reduce the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Protestors shouted "Lock her up," made Nazi salutes and chanted, "Heil Whitmer."
Many Americans were appalled at the astroturf protest, and some called it terrorism.
Here's how the Internet responded:
@realDonaldTrump Trump’s “very good people” carried semi-automatic rifles into the Michigan state capitol yesterday… https://t.co/Mnjt8yPWcu— Jim Roberts (@Jim Roberts)1588338451.0
@realDonaldTrump We get it. Some very fine people, on both sides. https://t.co/tPXeYyVhnW— Tom Shafer (@Tom Shafer)1588337443.0
President says governor should make a deal with terrorists. https://t.co/njxgN5y3t8— The Rude Pundit (@The Rude Pundit)1588337159.0
@realDonaldTrump angry mob brandishing military-grade weapons because they're mad at having to stay at home = "good… https://t.co/ex6veANEvY— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich)1588337204.0
"very good people" "very fine people" https://t.co/CWmaQHFWJB— Oliver Willis (@Oliver Willis)1588338514.0
The president calls for the governor of Michigan to negotiate with a bunch of heavily armed people who stormed the… https://t.co/Aaqled3GXQ— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar)1588337117.0
@realDonaldTrump We don't negotiate with terrorists. https://t.co/QLzxnN2Gqr— Dr. Diogenes, Ph.D. (@Dr. Diogenes, Ph.D.)1588338726.0
Good people don't arm themselves with masks and guns demanding the government to bend to their will. Only terroris… https://t.co/bHOYfRiKA5— Alex Cole (@Alex Cole)1588337607.0
@realDonaldTrump This is what you have done to our wonderful country. History will not be kind to you... https://t.co/L76R3UiiBY— Lula Rodriguez (@Lula Rodriguez)1588338615.0
@realDonaldTrump Group of armed, crazy people invading the statehouse to try & get to the Governor are NOT “good pe… https://t.co/36OGsF9e6u— Jodie (@Jodie)1588337072.0
@realDonaldTrump They are very good people? Armed, no masks, no social distancing, breathing on public servants. Ho… https://t.co/H326y8OLnR— BlessYourHeart (@BlessYourHeart)1588337512.0
Here's one of those "very good people" at yesterday's paramilitary protest. https://t.co/aCbYblGF90… https://t.co/TIueJiXjXu— Susan J. Demas 🏔 (@Susan J. Demas 🏔)1588338067.0
Trump announced guidelines for states to reopen a couple of weeks ago. Either Michigan meets those guidelines, or t… https://t.co/yrAs0JkuJB— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire)1588337798.0
@realDonaldTrump Yes. "Good" people bring assault rifles into a building and start screaming and threatening state police like lunatics 🙄— Jack 🇺🇸😷 (@Jack 🇺🇸😷)1588337836.0
A bunch of white people came to the capitol with carrying assault rifles and not wearing any protective gear. The G… https://t.co/0vB5XVbCkw— Fiddler (@Fiddler)1588338968.0
"These are very good people..." Let's see, where have I heard that before? Oh, right. https://t.co/UgG3EiFhkt https://t.co/LjdNwsw7SS— Kevin M. Levin (@Kevin M. Levin)1588337897.0
These heavily armed goons are good people but a football player kneeling during the anthem should find another coun… https://t.co/534Z3M8ASh— Jesse Wente (@Jesse Wente)1588337407.0
Historically, putting out fires where "good people" like Michigan militia members are concerned is quite a lot of w… https://t.co/gViuXtYKSd— Robyn Pennacchia (@Robyn Pennacchia)1588338843.0
But....Colin Kirkpatrick was a Sonofabitch? Sounds about white. 😱 https://t.co/CBu4EOhpOT— 🖖 Christian Janeway 🖖 (@🖖 Christian Janeway 🖖)1588337202.0
maybe the president of the fucking united states should not be encouraging them in the first place, just a thought https://t.co/0K8XrKNXGC— Tom Tomorrow is so very tired (@Tom Tomorrow is so very tired)1588337113.0
