Rachel Vindman, the wife of Trump impeachment witness and retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, backtracked and deleted her social media post downplaying the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“No ears were harmed. Carry on with your Sunday afternoon,” she wrote in a now-deleted post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.
Her social media account was flooded with criticism for dismissing a second possible fatal attempt to assassinate a former president and the first assassination attempt where a Pennsylvania father was killed and numerous people were seriously injured.
“A member of the whistleblowing Vindman family scoffs at second Trump assassination attempt. BTW, in first attempt, in July, four people were shot; one dead, two seriously wounded, one slightly wounded,” the Washington Examiner’s Byron York said on X in response to her post.
Rachel Vindman responded to the criticism of the post by doubling down.
“Sorry you’re triggered. I mean no I’m not. I don’t care a little bit ,” she later posted.
Her brother-in-law Eugene Vindman, who is running for the open seat in Virginia‘s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, received blowback for Rachel Vindman’s social media post.
Derrick Anderson, Eugene Vindman’s Republican challenger in the congressional race, called out the Democrat for his family’s comments.
“Yevgeny Vindman’s family/political advisors made horrible statements about the 2nd Trump assassination attempt,” Anderson said.
He continued, “Your sister-in-law is actively joking and making light of the second assassination attempt on Trump. Will you show the leadership needed during this time and denounce her statements?”
“The fact that she thinks this is a joke is horrendous,” Anderson said in an interview Monday morning. “This is not a laughing matter. … This is our country.”
“I am deeply disturbed by yet another attempt of political violence in our nation,” Eugene Vindman wrote on the assassination attempt. “I am grateful that no one is hurt, and thankful for the law enforcement agents who acted bravely and swiftly in the line of duty.”
The Democratic candidate’s campaign reportedly said he can only speak for himself.
Rachel Vindman announced on Monday that she had “deleted” the “flippant” post.
“I have deleted my tweet,” she said on X. “It was flippant & political violence is a serious issue. Whether it’s aimed at a former president, the media, immigrants, or political ‘enemies’ & every incident should be addressed appropriately if we want to change the tenor of our political discourse.”
She continued with more posts about “fear” of people wanting to hurt her family.
“I have sat awake many nights wondering who might be outside. I have known the instant fear of receiving an unknown package or letter. I have had my child ask me if we were safe and if someone was going to hurt our family,” she said.
“With social media it’s easy to say the wrong thing and then walk away, but if words matter for some they should matter for all. I don’t always get it right the first time,” she continued. “I’m grateful to all who have supported us throughout the past five years.”
She also posted on Sunday in response to former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney ripping the former president for slamming Taylor Swift. Cheney had written, “Says the smallest man who ever lived.”
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“I’m not trying to be picky, Congresswoman, but I suggest changing ‘smallest’ to ‘tiniest,’” Rachel Vindman said.
The Cook Political Report has listed the 7th District congressional race as one of the most competitive House races in the country. The seat is being left vacant by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who is running to be governor of Virginia.
