BBC presenter suggested Trump assassination

BBC presenter David Aaronovitch sparked controversy when he posted a now-deleted message on social network X suggesting that former President Donald Trump be assassinated on Joe Biden’s orders.

A high-ranking BBC presenter from the UK has ignited a firestorm by suggesting President #JoeBiden should have #DonaldTrump murdered.

Read more https://t.co/JOnTpCVH88 pic.twitter.com/b57QU7jyVt

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 3, 2024

Aaronovitch made the comments in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, sparking a furor by claiming that if he were in Biden’s shoes, he would quickly have Trump eliminated, arguing that Trump poses a threat to America’s security.

Aaronovitch, having since removed the tweet, attempted to clarify his intentions by describing his publication as satirical.

He expressed his displeasure at the reactions, indicating that a far-right movement was now interpreting his tweet about the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity as an incitement to violence, whereas he claims it was clearly intended as satire.

There’s now a far right pile on suggesting that my tweet about the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity is an incitement to violence when it’s plainly a satire. So I’m deleting it. If nothing else though it’s given me a map of some the daftest people on this site.

— David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) July 1, 2024

It’s worth recalling that in a six-to-three decision, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents could not be prosecuted for their official acts. The decision, which sparked reactions, featured dissenting opinions co-authored by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The latter warned that the ruling could exempt former presidents from responsibility for serious acts, including the hypothetical murder of their political opponents.

Following his provocative publication, Aaronovitch was branded irresponsible and trash, and accused of suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome on social networks.

In response, he shot back at several of his detractors, asking if they had read the Supreme Court decision, and claimed that those insulting him were among the stupidest people on X.