Two Canadian universities are investigating posts made to social media following the assassination attempt at a Donald Trump rally on Saturday.
University of Guelph biology Prof. Shoshanah Jacobs posted on X, formerly Twitter, a video of the aftermath of the shooting along with the words, “When 4 inches really matters.”
In response, Karen Pinder, who is listed as a professor of teaching at UBC’s faculty of medicine, said, “Damn, so close. Too bad,” and then later, in response to a comment, “What a glorious day this could have been!”
Pinder’s account has since been deleted, while Jacobs’ has been set to private.
The University of British Columbia says it is “aware” of the posts and “looking into” them, while saying it “does not condone violence of any kind.”
Pinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CBC News.
The University of Guelph, meanwhile, has released a statement confirming it is investigating the incident, saying that it’s taking the professor’s social media post “seriously and are currently looking into the matter.”
“The University of Guelph does not condone violence of any kind. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with those affected by the events of Saturday,” reads the statement.
Jacobs replied to a handful of people in her comments, saying her post was taken out of context and was meant to be a comment on the closeness of the bullet to Trump, not a statement of a desired outcome.
“Four inches towards the centre of his head would have killed him. Therefore, they really mattered,” one of Jacobs’s replies said.
CBC News reached out to Jacobs and her lawyer. Both said they would not comment on the situation.
Guelph police report at least one physical threat in response to the social media posts.
“There were some comments that were received by operators at the university, essentially just negative comments,” said Guelph police spokesperson Scott Tracey.
“The only specific threat that I’m aware of was a threat to cause harm, and it was sent by email from an unknown sender,” said Tracey without explicitly naming the professor as the target.
CBC News has also reached out to law enforcement in B.C. and at UBC to see if they are aware of any threats being made to Pinder.
Local politicians condemn the social media post
The UBC professor’s posts have generated outrage online, including from B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon who said in a statement, “Celebrating violence of any sort is unacceptable.”
In a statement to CBC News, Minister of Post-Secondary Education Lisa Beare called Pinder’s comments “abhorrent.”
“I am aware that UBC is looking into this matter. I want to be clear that political violence of any kind should never be tolerated,” she added.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad took to social media to share a screenshot of the post, calling it “disappointing” and saying that “no classroom in this province should have room for this kind of radicalism.”
Deeply concerned to see Donald Trump shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania. <br><br>No matter your politics, the attempted assassination of a former president and presidential candidate is horrific. <br><br>The people of British Columbia abhor political violence in all of its forms.
—@Dave_Eby
“I was horrified,” Rustad told CBC News. “Anybody that is in a position of authority, a position who is responsible for educating our future kids … radicalization in our schools should not be happening.”
Rustad is among other B.C. politicians who have condemned the shooting in Pennsylvania where Trump’s ear was struck, a bystander was killed and two others were wounded.
Premier David Eby also posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Saturday after the shooting, saying he was “deeply concerned.”
“No matter your politics, the attempted assassination of a former president and presidential candidate is horrific,” Eby said in the post. “The people of British Columbia abhor political violence in all of its forms.”