'Extraordinarily alarming': Mayorkas condemns social media reaction to CEO killing
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas condemned rhetoric on social media following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and called the celebratory language used by some "extraordinarily alarming."
During a Sunday morning appearance on the CBS News show "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan, Mayorkas said he was concerned by the praise awarded to the man charged in connection with the shocking shooting.
"The rhetoric on social media following that, that murder is extraordinarily alarming," Mayorkas said. "It speaks of what is really bubbling here in this country, and unfortunately we see that manifested in violence, the domestic violent extremism that exists."
"I still am alarmed, though, by the heroism that is being attributed to an alleged murderer of a father of two children on the streets in New York City," Mayorkas later added.
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting Thompson, was read federal charges against him in a Manhattan courtroom last week. The new charges, which include murder using a firearm and two counts of stalking, against Mangione, 26, open up the possibility that he could receive the death sentence if he is ultimately found guilty of the murder.
The speculation surrounding Mangione unleashed online scorn at UnitedHealthcare and U.S. health insurance industry that serves as gatekeeper to the nation's $4.5 trillion health care system.
In the days after Thompson’s death, social media was flooded by users sharing experiences of denied health insurance claims. Some said they were refused necessary medical treatments while others discussed how their loved ones failed to receive lifesaving care, left only with insurmountable medical debt.
But Mayorkas said officials have also seen a trend of "narratives of hate" and "anti-government sentiment."
"We've seen personal grievances in the language of violence, accompanying or being a part of those narratives," Mayorkas added.
When asked if he would consider the shooting suspect a terrorist, Mayorkas declined to comment on the ongoing case.
"First of all, let us take a step back and note the tremendous tragedy. A father of two children, a family man was murdered in New York City in cold blood, first and foremost," Mayorkas told CBS.
Melissa Cruz is an elections reporting fellow focusing on voter access issues for the Paste BN Network. You can reach her at mcruz@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, at @MelissaWrites22.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Paste BN