Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to defend Ashli Babbitt after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that the officer who killed her was doing “his job.”
McCarthy’s comments came after a reporter asked him about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) recently stating that Babbitt had been murdered during the January 6 Capitol breach during a committee hearing.
Civil rights and liberties are important, but there is a clear difference between Tyre Nichols and Ashli Babbit. pic.twitter.com/ARpdJkShZp
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 31, 2023
When asked about whether he believed that Babbitt was murdered or the Capitol Police officer was just doing his job, McCarthy replied that the “officer did his job.”
McCarthy says the cop that murdered unarmed Ashli Babbitt was just “doing his job”
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) February 3, 2023
We knew McCarthy was a RINO 🤡 POS pic.twitter.com/jCO9NeqOxt
After whipping support for McCarthy’s campaign in the House speakership race last month, Trump took to Truth Social to air out his disagreement with McCarthy.
“I totally disagree with the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, in that the Police Officer ‘Thug,’ who has had a very checkered past to begin with, was not just ‘doing his job’ when he shot and killed Great Patriot Ashli Babbitt at point blank range,” Trump wrote to Truth Social.
“Despite trying to keep him anonymous, shielded, and protected, this MISFIT proudly showed up on NBC Fake Nightly News ‘bragging’ about the killing. He was not a hero but a COWARD, who wanted to show how tough he was. ASHLI BABBITT WAS MURDERED!!!”
President Donald Trump has condemned @SpeakerMcCarthy’s disgusting remarks about how Ashli Babbitt died because “the police officer was doing his job”.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) February 3, 2023
Trump took to Truth Social to remind people of the Capitol Police officer’s shady record, and the fact that Ashli was MURDERED! https://t.co/eqxYPCo2t4 pic.twitter.com/zE8sGnX2I9
Babbitt was shot and killed during the January 6 protests by Lt. Michael Byrd at point-blank range, despite taking actions to stop protesters from breaching the Speaker’s Lobby.
RELATED: Capitol Police ARREST Mother of Ashli Babbitt for Jaywalking
Before her death, Babbitt was urging officers to stop the few violent protesters at the front, and even punched a protester who had broken a window.
NEW: Ashli Babbitt punched Zachary Alam in an effort to stop him from breaching the window. This was right after the cops decided to evacuate—
— Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) January 25, 2022
She was trying to stop the attack on the windows and was visibly frustrated with Police inaction.
Watch:
[Thread] pic.twitter.com/LZSPV6ftqG
“I’ve watched the videos of Ashli Babbitt’s murder,” Greene tweeted, also sharing Trump’s response to McCarthy.
“Yes she was inside the Capitol, but the only violence she committed was punching another J6’er in the face after he broke the window. Not an officer or lawmaker, she punched a J6’er & tried to stop them, then Byrd shot her.”
I’ve watched the videos of Ashli Babbit’s murder.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 3, 2023
Yes she was inside the Capitol, but the only violence she committed was punching another J6’er in the face after he broke the window.
Not an officer or law maker, she punched a J6’er & tried to stop them, then Byrd shot her. pic.twitter.com/p8WE1Owxtn
Despite clear proof that Babbitt was acting in the best interest of everyone involved in the situation, the U.S. Capitol Police Office of Professional Responsibility said Lt. Byrd’s behavior was legal and within department policy, according to a press release.
“The officer’s actions were consistent with the officer’s training and USCP policies and procedures,” the release states.
RELATED: WATCH: Capitol Police ARREST Mother of Ashli Babbitt for Jaywalking