The press secretary for Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) is in hot water for a tweet that suggested using violence against “transphobes” following the Nashville Christian school shooting.
The spokesperson for Hobbs, Josselyn Berry, sent out a tweet on Monday that included an image from the film “Gloria,” where a woman was holding two handguns. The caption on the tweet said, “Us when we see transphobes.”
Berry made her tweet hours after the shooter, who opened fire at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, killing three 9-year-olds and three adults before being fatally shot by police, was identified by authorities as a transgender person.
Since releasing the tweet, Berry has made her account private, but many, including Republican lawmakers in the state, have called the tweet tone-deaf and a call for more violence.
Arizona Freedom Caucus leader Sen. Jack Hoffman (R-Queens Creek) said Berry was “threatening to shoot people Democrats disagree with less than 12 hours after the Nashville shooting.”
“Less than 12 hours after the tragic shooting in Nashville by a deranged transgender activist [Hobbs’] Press Secretary calls for shooting people Democrats disagree with,” the Arizona Freedom Caucus tweeted on Tuesday.
Prominent Republican commentator Charlie Kirk also shared his thoughts on the tweet, sharing on Twitter that Berry was “advocating for violence” against those who don’t agree with her agenda.
Daniel Scarpinato, the former chief of staff for the former Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, also called Berry’s tweet offensive and tone-deaf following the shooting.
“I don’t think anyone, no matter your political leanings, would look at that tweet — any sane, professional person would look at that tweet and say, ‘This is how I want one of the top advisers to the governor of my state to conduct themselves,’” Scarpinato told AZCentral.
Since the tweet, Berry has not responded to numerous requests for comment.
On Wednesday, hours after the tweet was sent and the shooting occurred, Gov. Hobbs’ office released a statement sharing that Hobbs has accepted Berry’s resignation from her position.
“The Governor does not condone violence in any form. This administration holds mutual respect at the forefront of how we engage with one another,” the statement says. “The post by the Press Secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration. The Governor has received and accepted the resignation of the Press Secretary.”
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