New Biden Official Previous Social Media Posts "Do not reflect my current views. Period"

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Tyler Cherry, newly appointed Associate Communications Director in the Biden administration, has found himself at the center of a political controversy, compelled to apologize for controversial tweets from his past. The situation erupted after Politico reported Cherry's promotion from his former role as Communications Director at the Interior Department. Conservatives quickly seized on the issue, circulating screenshots of old tweets from Cherry's social media that date back to 2014 and 2015. These tweets contained strong criticisms of law enforcement, calls for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and support for anti-Israel organizations.

 

Cherry responded to the controversy by addressing it on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday. "Past social media posts from when I was younger do not reflect my current views. Period," Cherry stated, emphasizing his commitment to the Biden administration's agenda, particularly in climate and environmental policies. In an effort to manage the backlash, Cherry deleted any posts on his account predating April 2022, making it impossible to independently verify the screenshots that were circulating online. However, the handle @TylerACherry, seen in the screenshots, matches Cherry's current X account name.

 

 

One purported tweet from 2015, posted during the unrest following Freddie Gray's death in police custody, allegedly read, "Praying for #Baltimore, but praying even harder for an end to a capitalistic police state motivated by explicit and implicit racial biases." Another from the same period supposedly stated, "Time to recall that the modern day police system is a direct evolution of slave patrols and lynch mobs." In tweets from 2014, Cherry allegedly expressed support for Palestine during the Gaza War, writing, "Cheersing in bars to ending the occupation of Palestine — no shame and f— your glares #ISupportGaza #FreePalestine."

 

 

Cherry's professional history includes three years at the Interior Department under Secretary Deb Haaland before his recent promotion to the White House. He is also recognized for his LGBTQ rights activism and involvement in Washington, D.C.'s creative community. Despite the controversy, the Biden administration has stood by Cherry. White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News Digital, "We're very proud to have Tyler on the team." This stance aligns with the administration's previous responses to attacks on Cherry, who faced criticism for his appearance and professional demeanor last October.

 

Conservative commentators have questioned Cherry's fitness for his role and criticized the Biden administration's hiring decision. Some argue that Cherry's past posts reflect a broader ideological stance within the administration, while others view them as youthful indiscretions that should not overshadow his professional qualifications. X user Ashley St. Clair, for instance, responded to Cherry's apology by asking, "That's really awesome to hear Tyler— could you elaborate on what views are different and which one of these past posts do not reflect your current views?" and posted a screenshot of the alleged past tweets. Another user, Corey A. DeAngelis, inquired, "Why did you just delete this tweet" shortly after Cherry posted his apology.

 

The incident highlights the challenges faced by public figures in the age of social media, where past comments can resurface and become points of contention. For now, the Biden administration remains supportive of Cherry, signaling confidence in his ability to fulfill his duties despite the controversy.

 

Credit: NewsWeek 2024-06-25

 

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