Republican fundraisers in Overland Park, Kansas, were encouraged to "beat up" an effigy of US President Joe Biden wearing a "Let's Go Brandon" shirt. A video of the event was initially downloaded to the Rumble video platform but eventually taken down. Democrat attorney Kaivan Shroff, however, was quick to post it on X (formerly Twitter) before it was deleted.
The event caused an outrage on social media, as viewers wrote in that they were troubled by images of physical violence against the President. According to the Huffington Post, former Kansas GOP chairman Mike Kuckelman wrote: “This conduct is shameful, and it is wrong," before calling for the resignations of Maria Holiday, chair of the Johnson County Republican Party. "While I don't agree with many of his policies, he is a fellow human being and no one should condone or defend this horrific and shameful conduct," he added.
Holiday, however, reiterated that, “the mask was regrettable and removed and no one collected or solicited any funds or donations in exchange for hitting the training device.” She also said the effigy had been part of a martial arts class.
Some viewers attacked Shroff for allegedly ignoring liberal actress Kathy Griffin appearing with a bloodied mask of former President Trump but he denied ever defending Griffin and pointed out that the latter had been "cancelled" for her behavior.
