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Lara Trump says 'lock her up' chants aimed at Gov Whitmer was POTUS having fun, Internet calls it 'bullying'

CNN anchor Jake Tapper called out Lara Trump for defending President Trump's comments on Michigan's Governor Whitmer and social media too wasn't pleased to see this 'idea of fun'

CNN anchor Jake Tapper grilled Lara Trump on the comments made by POTUS Donald Trump at his Michigan rally on October 17, where he stated that Governor Gretchen Whitmer needed to lift restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. Trump had said "Hopefully you’ll be sending her packing soon" while referring to Whitmer who had implemented strict coronavirus lockdown measures. Hearing this Trump's supporters began to shout "lock her up" to which he answered, "lock them all up". Trump's rhetoric follows the news of an anti-government militia group targeting Whitmer in a kidnapping plot that had taken place last week.

Lara, Trump's senior adviser, had insisted that POTUS was just 'having fun' and seemingly defended his comments which he had made at his rally in Muskegon, Michigan. Tapper then noted that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden does not say such things to get his supporters all riled up. He pointed out, "If there were any Democratic politicians throwing fuel on the fire, I would say tone it down, why don’t you tone it down …Shouldn’t everybody just tone it down, including your father-in-law?" In response to this, Lara had said that Trump "wasn’t doing anything, I don't think, to provoke people to threaten this woman at all." 

"He was having fun at a Trump rally," she added. "And quite frankly, there are bigger issues than this right now for everyday Americans." She shared how those issues include reopening the country, getting back to work, and having children going back to school amongst other "cancers that have gone unaddressed". Lara continued, "There are issues at hand here that are bigger than just keeping everybody locked down, so I think people are frustrated. The president was at a rally. It's a fun, light atmosphere. Of course, he wasn't encouraging people to threaten this woman. That is ridiculous," she shared. Tapper was not convinced at all but decided to stop the grilling and told her, "Well I don’t think lock her up is fun, but let’s move on."

In fact, Whitmer also took to Twitter and quote-tweeted a tweet that featured a video clip of the rally where Trump can be heard making those remarks. She wrote: “This is exactly the rhetoric that has put me, my family, and other government officials’ lives in danger while we try to save the lives of our fellow Americans. It needs to stop.”

Hearing Lara support POTUS, many social media users disagreed with her.  One such user social media user wrote, "So, her idea of fun is to encourage people to attempt violent overthrows of government? This is her idea of fun?" Another social media user had added, "They only ever divide and cause hate. I was voting in NC and there was one supporter screaming this to the point police had to be called. They are doing this so when they lose they can attempt to call on these psychos." While one termed it as 'bullying' saying: "When you have ‘fun’ at someone else’s expense, it’s called bullying."

"As a general rule, presidents of the United States don't make jokes about those kinds of things. Plots to abduct and execute a democratically elected politician should be condemned, not laughed about," wrote another outraged social media user. 

Yet another user who echoed the same sentiments shared, "That's the problem with the Trump family, laughing and making fun of people while inciting violence is fun for these Fers. This chic is a mom, my goodness what is she teaching her children. @LaraLeaTrump."

"Sad that for Trump inciting violence is fun for him. Trump should have been addressing the very important issues Trumps’s daughter in law listed. Even she know there are more important issues than creating division and encouraging violence," shared another user.