Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Swede

(37,458 posts)
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 08:15 AM 5 hrs ago

GOP Silent as Mormon Church Gunman Identified as 'Ultra MAGA' Trump Supporter

Oops

As the nation reels from another devastating mass shooting—this time at a Mormon church in suburban Michigan—Republican leaders have remained notably silent following revelations that the gunman was a devoted Trump supporter who once proudly wore the label “Ultra MAGA.”

Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Marine veteran from Grand Blanc Township, plowed his pickup truck into a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday before opening fire on worshippers. Ten people were shot. Four are dead. The church was later engulfed in flames after Sanford used an accelerant to set it ablaze. Two of the victims died from gunshot wounds, and two more bodies were recovered from the debris.

Sanford in a camouflage Trump 2020 shirt that read “Make Liberals Cry Again,” and a Trump-Pence sign still visible on his front lawn just months ago, the political implications became harder to ignore.

So far, Republican leaders have said nothing.

https://dailyboulder.com/gop-silent-as-mormon-church-gunman-identified-as-ultra-maga-trump-supporter/

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
GOP Silent as Mormon Church Gunman Identified as 'Ultra MAGA' Trump Supporter (Original Post) Swede 5 hrs ago OP
Shocked! I tell you. Shocked! Liberal In Texas 5 hrs ago #1
im not AllaN01Bear 3 hrs ago #27
Kick BlueWaveNeverEnd 5 hrs ago #2
Republicans own this church massacre Champp 5 hrs ago #3
They own the majority of the violence that is happening around the country. OldBaldy1701E 5 hrs ago #7
Yes. The numbers tell the story Champp 3 hrs ago #24
It's Magacide gopiscrap 45 min ago #32
So, which is less surprising? Paladin 5 hrs ago #4
Or their response? Delmette2.0 52 min ago #31
And after they stampeded to get in front of TV cameras after Kirk's murder. tanyev 5 hrs ago #5
They were praying for some transgender connection. sop 4 hrs ago #17
Why would they? They approve! (n/t) OldBaldy1701E 5 hrs ago #6
Oh no way! Kingofalldems 5 hrs ago #8
Was she trans too? durablend 4 hrs ago #12
Not seen on a billboard. usonian 4 hrs ago #9
I love that gopiscrap 44 min ago #33
Steal my graphic! Share! usonian 41 min ago #34
They are addicted to fear, hate and violence Clouds Passing 4 hrs ago #10
Figured he was hardcore MAGA the way Law enforcement was acting when they immediately learned of his MAGANESS. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist 4 hrs ago #11
DTs response was telling Cosmocat 4 hrs ago #13
Is that source credible? It would be nice to see the actual evidence instead of just allusions to it. xocetaceans 4 hrs ago #14
Oh so they didn't find bullets with leftist writings this time? IronLionZion 4 hrs ago #15
The FBI didn't have time to plant them. It takes a while to engrave a shelll casing Ray Bruns 3 hrs ago #30
His younger brother, in a recent family photo, was sporting a t-shirt that bragged: wolfie001 4 hrs ago #16
"An act of targeted violence, though a motive has not been confirmed." lees1975 4 hrs ago #18
That seems likely Martin Eden 3 hrs ago #21
OmissionLie multigraincracker 3 hrs ago #19
It's not just the GOP mn9driver 3 hrs ago #20
When a MAGA Trump supporter does it, he's a lone wolf disturbed individual Martin Eden 3 hrs ago #22
Of course Rebl2 3 hrs ago #23
DOJ removes study on right wing violence surfered 3 hrs ago #25
What, nothing about rhetoric being to blame? Ohioboy 3 hrs ago #26
KICK orangecrush 3 hrs ago #28
Honestly it would be good for society NoPasaran 3 hrs ago #29
Brain Dead Hate Stuffed Psycho. Just Cha 14 min ago #35

OldBaldy1701E

(9,195 posts)
7. They own the majority of the violence that is happening around the country.
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:07 AM
5 hrs ago

They will never admit to that.

But, it is on them. They know it deep down. They also know that there will be a reckoning over this.

Because if there isn't, then we have learned nothing.

Paladin

(31,701 posts)
4. So, which is less surprising?
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 08:51 AM
5 hrs ago

1. The fact that the gunman was "Ultra MAGA," or

2. The GOP's silence about it?

Apologies for hitting you with such a tough one...

Delmette2.0

(4,431 posts)
31. Or their response?
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 01:18 PM
52 min ago

1. Double down on blaming the liberals.

Or

2. Calling it fake news.

RedWhiteBlueIsRacist

(1,191 posts)
11. Figured he was hardcore MAGA the way Law enforcement was acting when they immediately learned of his MAGANESS.
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:30 AM
4 hrs ago

Not once did I hear broadcast media speak of the killer's political leanings in the aftermath of the killings, either.

Cosmocat

(15,294 posts)
13. DTs response was telling
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:41 AM
4 hrs ago

"Another attack on christianity"

They HAVE to be the victim, but clearly it was backloaded - not saying by whom.

xocetaceans

(4,281 posts)
14. Is that source credible? It would be nice to see the actual evidence instead of just allusions to it.
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:42 AM
4 hrs ago
...

But as photos and social media posts surfaced showing Sanford in a camouflage Trump 2020 shirt that read “Make Liberals Cry Again,” and a Trump-Pence sign still visible on his front lawn just months ago, the political implications became harder to ignore.

...

https://dailyboulder.com/gop-silent-as-mormon-church-gunman-identified-as-ultra-maga-trump-supporter/





...

Overall, we rate The Daily Boulder Left Biased and Questionable based on a lack of transparency, poor sourcing, promotion of propaganda, and failed fact checks.

Detailed Report
Reasoning: Propaganda, Poor Sourcing, Lack of Transparency, Failed Fact Checks
Bias Rating: FAR LEFT (-8.5)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (6.3)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-daily-boulder-bias/


IronLionZion

(50,022 posts)
15. Oh so they didn't find bullets with leftist writings this time?
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:44 AM
4 hrs ago


That's the only evidence that matters in this administration. Liberals love to write stuff on bullets.

wolfie001

(6,243 posts)
16. His younger brother, in a recent family photo, was sporting a t-shirt that bragged:
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:47 AM
4 hrs ago

"Proud to be a virgin" or something pathetic like that. It'd be laughable but that christian household produced a cold and calculating killer. Very representative of the hateful crowd that are part of the tRUMP regime. I suggest removing all "friends and family" from any future gatherings if they support these monsters.

lees1975

(6,786 posts)
18. "An act of targeted violence, though a motive has not been confirmed."
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:02 AM
4 hrs ago

Oh, let me help with that.

A Mormon shot Charlie Kirk.

Settled.

mn9driver

(4,784 posts)
20. It's not just the GOP
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:17 AM
3 hrs ago

This whole story disappeared from the headlines as soon as it became clear that the shooter was MAGA.

Martin Eden

(14,910 posts)
22. When a MAGA Trump supporter does it, he's a lone wolf disturbed individual
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:22 AM
3 hrs ago

When someone on the right is targeted, the entire "Left" and the Democratic Party are to blame -- even before any facts about the shooter are known.

Rebl2

(17,047 posts)
23. Of course
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:24 AM
3 hrs ago

not. They won’t ever say anything, unless it’s to say he’s mentally ill.

NoPasaran

(17,315 posts)
29. Honestly it would be good for society
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 11:01 AM
3 hrs ago

Honestly it would be good for society to accept that no political tendency has a monopoly on deranged lunatics with access to firearms.

Cha

(314,712 posts)
35. Brain Dead Hate Stuffed Psycho. Just
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 01:56 PM
14 min ago

like the Demented, Orange Slathered, Despot.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»GOP Silent as Mormon Chur...