President Trump shared a video showing a supporter declaring that the death of Democrats was the best political outcome for the country.
Couy Griffin, a GOP county commissioner from New Mexico and founder of Cowboys for Trump, can be seen in footage from a rally earlier this month making controversial comments, which received backlash from local Republicans.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat,” Griffin said at the time.
He added he didn’t mean what he said in a physical sense and assumed the video’s context would get distorted by social media and news outlets.
“I say that in the political sense because the Democrat agenda and policy is anti-American right now,” he said.
Griffin said his remark was also made in hopes that Republicans would take control of both the House and Senate in November. Currently, the Senate is led by a GOP majority while Democrats have control of the House.
Trump retweeted the video posted by the Cowboys for Trump account late Wednesday night, adding: “Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico!”
Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico! https://t.co/aCRJeskUA8
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2020
Cowboys for Trump describes its mission as one to support Trump’s reelection campaign and policies. According to the group’s website, it advocates for increased border security, protecting the Second Amendment, and anti-abortion policies as well as showing support for rural America and its environmental flourishment and industrial health.
Griffin told the Daily Beast this week that he should be “more careful when I choose the words that I speak” despite repeating his claim that “the only good Democrat is a dead one” to the outlet.
“But you know, it’s just so hypocritical of the Left how they’re blowing this up like I’m some hate-speech murderer,” he added.
