Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday has caused outrage among some Twitter users, including those who have called for the assassination of the president-elect and his vice presidential counterpart, Mike Pence.
Since the race was called early Wednesday morning, angry Americans have flooded the social media platform. “Can someone assassinate Trump and fix this huge mistake,” wrote one user on Thursday, echoing the sentiments of others upset by the outcome of the election.
Others have responded by mocking those users, pointing out that if someone were to assassinate Trump, he would simply be succeeded by Pence, whom many consider more ideological.
The Secret Service does not comment publicly on its protective operations, but threats of assassination on social media have resulted in investigations in the past. As reported by The Atlantic, the organization’s “Internet Threat Desk,” founded in 2000, handles these kinds of cases and has seen its responsibilities expand in recent years.
The unit, which identifies and assesses online threats against the president, was expanded in 2009 following the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Mashable reported back in March, before Trump had clinched the Republican nomination, that those making threats against the then-candidate had received calls and visits from the Secret Service.
“If you see anything that applies on Twitter, we’re going to investigate it,” a spokesperson for the organization told Mashable at the time, referring to the Secret Service’s duties to protect candidates.
Anti-Trump sentiments on Twitter mirrored the in-person protests that broke out across the country on Wednesday. Gatherings of protesters were reported in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Boston and Portland on Wednesday.
One angry Trump protester in Los Angeles told CNN that she was ready for a civil war. “There will be casualties on both sides. There will be, because people have to die to make a change in this world,” she said.
See some of the tweets below:
https://twitter.com/kazzandrabalona/status/796268890590310401
https://twitter.com/BankRolllGreg/status/796208952631562240
https://twitter.com/TheJacobRoberts/status/796812563602436096
https://twitter.com/billyengland/status/796802076483391488
someone's gotta take one for the team and assassinate donald trump before he starts fucking shit up
— ? (@sustvty) November 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/italktofridges/status/796792186910179328
I don't really believe much in "God" but I'll pray this one time.
I pray for nothing but death to Trump. Ok I'm done.
— Gil (@_PapoLuca) November 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/PoagSean/status/796004971774955520
https://twitter.com/MariWritesSins/status/796267827988758529