Louisville instructor out of a job after post on Trump assassination attempt
(The Center Square) – The Louisville college instructor who made a controversial social media post over the weekend regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is out of a job, and he’s blaming the school for kowtowing to “domestic terrorism.”
One day after announcing the faculty member was on unpaid leave, Bellarmine University issued a statement Tuesday evening saying the individual “is no longer a Bellarmine employee.”
The private Catholic institution did not name the former worker. However, Libsoftiktok found a post over the weekend by faculty member John James, who wrote, “If you’re gonna shoot, man, don’t miss” after Saturday’s attack at a Trump campaign rally that left Trump and others injured and one man dead. The alleged shooter was also killed as Secret Service agents returned fire.
Bellarmine also reported a bomb threat on its campus a couple of hours after Monday’s announcement. That was later determined to not be credible. A spokesperson told local media that school leaders believe the incidents were connected.
The school did not reveal if James, who taught English at his alma mater, was fired or if he left on his own.
James sent an email to Inside Higher Ed saying the Libsoftiktok founder Chaya Raichik has taken pride in being called a “stochastic terrorist.” That term, which means demonizing people or groups to the point it incites violence against them, was mentioned in a Washington Post article on Raichik from February.
He added that he was “disappointed with Bellarmine University’s capitulation to domestic terrorism.”
A Bellarmine spokesperson declined to respond to The Center Square regarding James’ comment.
