Republicans in New Hampshire are criticizing Democratic Congressional candidates for their actions, sharing photos of themselves next to signs that read “86 47.” One of the candidates, Maura Sullivan, a former Marine officer who served in Iraq and held positions in the Obama administration, attended a protest recently. The rally in Portsmouth was among many across the country, aimed at denouncing the president’s perceived anti-democratic behavior.
During the protest, Sullivan shared a photo on social media with another veteran, both holding signs that said “Veteran Democracy.” However, the signs also bore the phrase “Foxtrot Delta Tango,” which in NATO phonetic alphabet spells out a derogatory term for Trump. Additionally, the term “86,” often used in bars and military contexts to indicate the removal of something, has also been viewed by some Republicans as a call to eliminate Trump.
Amid the uproar, the Secret Service is looking into a prior social media post by former FBI director James Comey, who had posted pictures of shells arranged to spell “86 47.” After facing backlash from conservatives, Comey deleted the post and issued an apology.
This discussion comes in the wake of tragic shootings involving state legislators in Minnesota, in which Sen. Melissa Hortman was killed and another lawmaker was injured. Sullivan’s campaign has drawn attention to these violent events in a statement, expressing deep condolences over the loss of political figures in Minnesota.
Nick London, Sullivan’s campaign manager, conveyed her anger and sorrow about the situation, emphasizing that there is no room for violence in politics, no matter the party affiliation. London pointed out that many Americans have been affected by the political climate, pointing fingers at Trump for his use of military imagery for political gain.
A New Hampshire Republican quickly took issue with Sullivan’s social media posts, suggesting that her actions reflect an alignment with extreme left ideologies. Jim Masshan, the state GOP chairman, remarked that such rhetoric was not representative of New Hampshire and condemned any form of political violence, regardless of the target.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) also expressed concerns, stating that political violence is unacceptable and demanding apologies from Sullivan while urging her to distance herself from any extremist political messaging.
