Tyler Cherry, newly promoted to Associate Communications Director in President Biden’s administration, has found himself at the center of a social media storm due to past tweets that recently resurfaced. These tweets, some comparing police officers to “slave patrols,” have led to significant criticism and a public apology from Cherry.
The issue arose shortly after Politico reported Cherry’s promotion from his prior role as communications director at the Interior Department. Screenshots of his past tweets, dating back to 2014 and 2015, began circulating online. These posts revealed strong anti-law enforcement rhetoric, calls for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and support for anti-Israel positions.
In one 2015 tweet, posted during the unrest following Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody, Cherry wrote, “Praying for #Baltimore, but praying even harder for an end to a capitalistic police state motivated by explicit and implicit racial biases.” Another tweet from that time declared, “Time to recall that the modern-day police system is a direct evolution of slave patrols and lynch mobs.”
With growing backlash, Cherry responded by apologizing and emphasizing that his views have changed since the tweets were posted. “Past social media posts from when I was younger do not reflect my current views. Period. I support this Administration’s agenda – and will continue my communications work focused on our climate and environmental policies,” Cherry stated.
Despite the deletion of all tweets predating April 2022 from Cherry’s account, making it challenging to verify the circulating screenshots, his acknowledgment of the tweets’ authenticity shows a willingness to address the controversy. Writer Nate Hochman also alleged that Cherry had deleted all tweets containing the word “white” just hours after the controversy erupted, adding to the public’s interest.
Cherry, along with Michael Vazquez and Jamie Citron, recently attended a Pride Celebration hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Mr. Emhoff in collaboration with GLAAD on June 28, 2023, in Washington, DC.
As this situation develops, Cherry’s actions and statements will be closely monitored. The Biden administration has yet to release an official statement regarding the controversy, but Cherry’s apology suggests an effort to refocus on his responsibilities within the White House.
Tyler Cherry, newly promoted to Associate Communications Director in President Biden’s administration, has found himself at the center of a social media storm due to past tweets that recently resurfaced. These tweets, some comparing police officers to “slave patrols,” have led to significant criticism and a public apology from Cherry.
The issue arose shortly after Politico reported Cherry’s promotion from his prior role as communications director at the Interior Department. Screenshots of his past tweets, dating back to 2014 and 2015, began circulating online. These posts revealed strong anti-law enforcement rhetoric, calls for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and support for anti-Israel positions.
In one 2015 tweet, posted during the unrest following Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody, Cherry wrote, “Praying for #Baltimore, but praying even harder for an end to a capitalistic police state motivated by explicit and implicit racial biases.” Another tweet from that time declared, “Time to recall that the modern-day police system is a direct evolution of slave patrols and lynch mobs.”
With growing backlash, Cherry responded by apologizing and emphasizing that his views have changed since the tweets were posted. “Past social media posts from when I was younger do not reflect my current views. Period. I support this Administration’s agenda – and will continue my communications work focused on our climate and environmental policies,” Cherry stated.
Despite the deletion of all tweets predating April 2022 from Cherry’s account, making it challenging to verify the circulating screenshots, his acknowledgment of the tweets’ authenticity shows a willingness to address the controversy. Writer Nate Hochman also alleged that Cherry had deleted all tweets containing the word “white” just hours after the controversy erupted, adding to the public’s interest.
Cherry, along with Michael Vazquez and Jamie Citron, recently attended a Pride Celebration hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Mr. Emhoff in collaboration with GLAAD on June 28, 2023, in Washington, DC.
As this situation develops, Cherry’s actions and statements will be closely monitored. The Biden administration has yet to release an official statement regarding the controversy, but Cherry’s apology suggests an effort to refocus on his responsibilities within the White House.