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By: Rob Otto
A worker in Mayor Eric Adams’ budget office, Tyler Barbieri, has been suspended for two weeks without pay after posting a disturbing comment on social media regarding the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the NY Post reported.
Barbieri, who has been an analyst with the Office of Management and Budget since at least 2018, earns an annual salary of $112,604. His comment, “too bad he missed,” sparked outrage and calls for his termination.
“This is absolutely sickening,” responded the X account “End Wokeness.” Twitter/X personality Eric Pistey added, “Needs to be fired immediately for advocating for political violence against a Presidential nominee who happens to be a former President.” Trump supporter Mike Ray echoed these sentiments, saying, “He needs to be unemployed immediately.”
After the backlash, Barbieri, 37, deleted his post and removed his LinkedIn account. Adams’ office acted swiftly, suspending Barbieri upon learning of his comment, the NY Post reported.
“We are aware that a mid-level employee made an inappropriate social media post about the tragic event that took place on Saturday in Pennsylvania. Condoning gun and political violence, even in jest, is unacceptable and inconsistent with our values,” a spokesperson for Adams stated. “This employee does not speak for the city, and that is why we proactively disciplined him… The employee has since apologized for his post and acknowledged the post was wrong.”
Barbieri apologized both by phone and in writing to his superiors at the Office of Management and Budget, a City Hall source said. The budget analyst declined to comment when contacted by phone.
Despite the suspension, some critics believe Barbieri deserves a harsher penalty. Staten Island Republican Party chairman and state Assemblyman Michael Tannousis stated, “He should be fired. At a time when an individual attempted to assassinate President Trump, this worker who enjoys a taxpayer salary should have demonstrated better judgment.”
The incident isn’t isolated. A staffer for a Mississippi congressman was fired for a Facebook post suggesting the Trump gunman should get “some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time.” Additionally, City Hall staffer Christopher Baugh was fired in October 2022 after being secretly recorded criticizing Adams’ handling of migrant influxes and police vaccination refusals, the NY Post pointed out.
In response to the escalating rhetoric, Mayor Adams held a press conference on Sunday with faith leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton, to denounce hate speech and political violence. Adams urged people to resolve differences at the “ballot box” instead of with “bullets.”
The assassination attempt occurred when Thomas Matthew Crooks bought 50 rounds of ammunition at a local gun store hours before opening fire at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks, positioned on the roof of a manufacturing plant about 130 yards from the rally, fired an estimated eight rounds. He grazed Trump in the ear, killed a volunteer firefighter, and gravely wounded two others. Secret Service snipers responded quickly, killing the 20-year-old assailant. Crooks was found with an AR-style semi-automatic assault rifle, wearing a shirt from the popular gun YouTube channel Demolition Ranch.
