Warren, MI – A former Michigan professor is under federal investigation after making a remark about “shooting” President Donald Trump during a public meeting in Warren.
The comment was made during a recent Warren City Council meeting where officials were discussing drone deliveries connected to Amazon services. In video viewed of the comments, retired professor and historian Wesley Arnold told council members he had ordered a “high-powered ATL 36X” and said he hoped to “use [it] to shoot the president of the United States,” adding, “I’m not kidding.”
He went on to describe it as “great for a headshot at a distance” and said he didn’t want it delivered by drone because he wouldn’t want something like that in the wrong hands.
The room reaction was immediate. In today’s climate, there’s no such thing as a throwaway line about violence against a sitting president.
“Oh Yeah, I Blew It”
Arnold later told officials and reporters he was joking and that he was referring to a camera lens, not a weapon. He said he commonly uses the phrase “shoot” when talking about photography and admitted the wording was a serious mistake.
When asked if he understood why the comment sparked alarm, he responded, “Oh yeah, I blew it.”
Despite the explanation, the situation escalated quickly. The United States Secret Service was notified and has opened an investigation. A handgun was reportedly removed from Arnold’s home as part of the inquiry. He has not been arrested.
Context Matters
Public threats, even if claimed to be jokes, are treated seriously, especially when directed at a current president. Law enforcement does not have the luxury of assuming intent. They assess risk first and sort out tone later.
There’s a lesson here that should be obvious, and that is words carry weight. In a hyper-political environment where tensions are already high, even an attempt at “clever” language can spiral into a federal investigation.
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- NMD Staff
Staff@NewMediaDetroit.com