Minersville Borough Council President Ian Mahal admits the Facebook post he published on Saturday night after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was “dumb and out-of-character.”
In a conversation with The Canary on Sunday, Mahal said plainly, “It was dumb and out-of-character,” for him to post what he did.
“Supporting what happened is disgusting,” Mahal said. “I am absolutely sorry for using anti-Trump rhetoric after an assassination attempt instead of calling the shooter what he is – a coward.”
On Saturday evening in Butler, a lone gunman nearly assassinated the former President while he held a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania.
One person in the crowd behind Trump was killed and two more are in critical condition. The gunman was killed by sniper fire. Trump was grazed on his right ear before Secret Service agents rushed the stage and hurried the former President away from the scene.
On Facebook, Mahal reacted, writing the following on his personal account:
“I would like to hold hands and thank our Lord and Savior that the biggest Coward/Pu**y/Traitor to America DID NOT get killed. The least deserving person in this country doesn’t need to be a martyr. A Coward and a rapist, and the worst president ever doesn’t deserve celebration.”
Mahal took the post down from social media following a quick backlash. However, screenshots of the post are being widely shared on Facebook.
He said he’s received death threats throughout Saturday evening and into Sunday since publishing that post.
He said of what he wrote on Saturday, “I understand that people are angry. It’s not representative of who I am. I take responsibility for the stupidity. I made a stupid decision.”
Mahal added that people believing that he wished the President had died in the assassination attempt are taking his words out of context.
“I disavow the political violence that’s been going on for years now,” Mahal said. “People that know me best know I would never be in favor of violence. It would be disgusting if people thought I wanted the President of the United States to die.”
Mahal further explained that he doesn’t hate Republicans. He says a majority of the people he has to work with as a member of Minersville Borough Council are Republicans. And he said that during an election campaign, his name was knowingly on signs alongside Trump supporters.
“I have spent the last decade working with Republicans more than Democrats,” Mahal said.
Mahal said he’s hopeful that something that he admits was a mistake doesn’t tarnish the decade he’s put into service with Minersville Borough Council.
“I bust my hump for everyone. I work for everyone,” Mahal said.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...
insider
July 14, 2024 at 7:23 pm
If only Trump would apologize for just ONE of his disgusting comments.
Lori
July 15, 2024 at 10:14 am
And if only Bobo Biden could remember one of his. Bobo Biden has let our country down this path and I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to come back.
CaveMan
July 17, 2024 at 7:11 am
This guy has been a liberal cry baby loser for years. No surprise here with his comments. The citizens of Minersville need to ask themselves this, “do you trust an idiot like this to be on your town council without prejudice?” Obviously this is not only how he feels about the former president, but also about Trump’s supporters.
Christian lu
July 16, 2024 at 11:25 pm
U share same mindset as shooter..n it shows.
Cumbola Resident
July 14, 2024 at 11:30 pm
What a jerk, regardless of your political beliefs, Trump is a former President. He should be moved out of office immediately. Such childish behavior has no room in public office.
James EISENHART
July 15, 2024 at 8:52 am
Doesn’t deserve to serve the GOOD citizens of a fine working class boro,should be shunned by all,removed from office immediately
Lori
July 15, 2024 at 10:13 am
No matter how you try to sugarcoat it, you wished someone dead. That is unacceptable.
Ryan
July 17, 2024 at 5:59 am
Fortunately, he did not wish anyone dead.
SPARKIES WIFE
July 15, 2024 at 10:59 am
You say it’s not who you are. But as soon as you heard the news about President Trump you couldn’t resist your very long descriptive response. It’s very much a bit of your character. You didn’t even mention the person killed, a father who dove onto his wife & daughter. Who was also a volunteer firefighter. A man from a place like our area! Also two others severely injured. No, you saw red and reacted.. I believe minersville and schuylkill county did see your character sir.
Maybe a break from the political arena is needed.
Abby
July 15, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Sorry, but the post you made DID show your true feelings about Trump and that’s unacceptable that you would wish a former president assassinated.
You don’t deserve to be re-elected and I hope the people of Minersville show you the door.
Linda H
July 15, 2024 at 4:30 pm
WOW, just WOW! Not who he is, but he puts it into writing and then posts it on a public form of social media? He needs to save what grace he has left and step down before the end of the day. Otherwise, he needs to be removed ASAP.
CaveMan
July 17, 2024 at 3:25 pm
I urge everyone that disagrees with Ian to call the Minersville Borough Town Hall and voice your concerns and have it discussed at next town meeting. Since Ian obviously feels the way he does toward Trump, how can he be trusted to serve the towns citizens in a non prejudice way? He obviously hates hatred towards the right. Odd how the left calls out people right away to be fair, non judgemental, and without prejudice yet when the left acts the way Ian does they sugar coat and brush it under the carpet. The phone number to the borough is 570-544-2149
Frank
July 17, 2024 at 8:05 pm
So many liberals wishing death on Trump. It’s disgusting. They sure showed their true colors over the weekend. Major difference between liberals and conservatives. Liberals with painful death on those that they disagree with. Conservatives wish the best on those they disagree with.
May this hate-filled liberal from Minersville come around at some point.
CaveMan
July 18, 2024 at 2:05 pm
I highly doubt this little punk received death threats. Any money he is saying this so he can now play the victim. It’s what liberals do. Anyway, he wouldn’t be where he is at in life today if it wasn’t for his grandfather, father, and uncle Neal. Without them, he would be a nobody.
pete
July 20, 2024 at 12:29 am
a man was killed, and 2 others critically wounded and the former president and maybe the next president of this great country almost had his head blown off and your first reaction is to post on social media what u posted, i would agree with you not smart to do, but your post does show your charter and who you are, time to step out of political life
SkookCritic
July 22, 2024 at 12:25 pm
“I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
— Donald J. Trump, January 6, 2020.
“The least deserving person in this country doesn’t need to be a martyr.”
— Ian Mahal, July 13, 2024
Some would call these statements sarcasm, but most, after thinking about it, would judge the quotes for what they are — saying the exact opposite of what was really intended.
Reality is that Trump and Mahal are birds of a feather, whether “grabbing them by the P***y” or streaking naked across a soccer field.