Government and Politics
July 13, 2024
ALBUQUERQUE - On July 13, 2024, State Senator Antonio “Moe” Maestas (D-Bernalillo) responded with an insensitive tweet on X under a post showing footage of President Trump’s assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Senator Maestas’ tweet has since been deleted, but we’ve included the screenshots below.
The senator’s response was in the comments under the following post where he diminished the severity of the incident and added a laughing emoji.
He has since posted a tweet apologizing for his “spontaneous earlier post” only after receiving criticism for his insensitivity.
The Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce issued the following statement:
“It is unacceptable that Senator Maestas’ first response to an assassination attempt, where the former President was shot at, narrowly missing his head, one person was killed and another severely injured, was to make a joke and downplay it. He has demonstrated that he does not have the character or discernment worthy of a New Mexico Senator. He apologized only after being criticized and justified his tweet by claiming he didn’t know the President had been struck. That is a weak excuse. New Mexicans deserve representation that acknowledges the gravity of this situation and will address it with the seriousness and dignity it deserves. Senator Maestas should step down after making such a disgraceful post.”