Federal, state, and local officials held a press conference on Monday afternoon in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, updating the public on the investigation into Sunday’s shooting that targeted worshipers at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation.
Ruben Coleman, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said that investigators are “continuing to work to determine a motive” for what the bureau is calling “an act of targeted violence.” Four people were killed in the attack, and another eight people were wounded.
“Our special agents, victim specialists, child advocates, forensic interviewers and local partners have interviewed over 100 victims and witnesses to date, and are continuing to interview individuals as we speak,” Coleman added.
Coleman’s comments come just hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-believe-michigan-church-shooter-hated-people-of-the-mormon-faith?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Feds+Believe+Michigan+Church+Shooter+%E2%80%98Hated+People+Of+The+Mormon+Faith%E2%80%99">said</a> that, based on her conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, the suspected gunman “hated people of the Mormon faith.” Coleman did not address Leavitt’s remarks.
The suspected gunman was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, who was killed in a shootout with police. The suspect, a Marine and Iraq War veteran, was accused of driving a Chevy Silverado into the church building before stepping out and shooting congregants and setting the structure on fire.
The pickup truck the alleged shooter used in the attack had two American flags displayed in its bed. In a photo uploaded to Facebook in 2019, Sanford was pictured wearing a “Trump 2020” shirt that read, “Make Liberals Cry Again,” NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-we-know-thomas-jacob-sanford-suspect-michigan-church-shooting-rcna234309">reported</a>.
The victims ranged in age from 6 to 78, according to Dr. Michael Danic, chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, where the victims were transported. Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, and three others for smoke inhalation. The child who was injured was stabilized and released, according to Danic.
Sanford allegedly set fire to the building using gasoline as an accelerant, and the blaze quickly engulfed the entire building. Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at Monday’s press conference that authorities have not finished searching the rubble of the burned building, but added that “everyone is accounted for.”
The roads near the church are still blocked off as authorities investigate the attack, and James Deir — the acting special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in Michigan — asked residents to stay out of the area as the investigation continues. The ATF brought in a rapid response team to investigate the fatal shooting and fire. The team has “been used all over the world” and includes forensic chemists and bomb technicians, according to Deir.
Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer also spoke at the press conference, urging people to refrain from speculation, which she called “unhelpful” and “downright dangerous.”
“So I just ask that people lower the temperature of rhetoric,” Whitmer added.
The deadly mass shooting at the Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc Township marks the second attack on a place of worship in Michigan in the past three months. In June, an assailant was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tragedy-averted-shooter-targeting-michigan-church-taken-out-by-security-guard">taken out</a> before he could make it inside CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne. One of the church’s deacons hit the attacker with his Ford F-150, giving the security guard time to shoot him. The security guard was shot in the leg, but no one else was injured.

US-SHOOTING-CHURCH

Authorities Provide Update On Michigan Church Shooting As Motive Remains Unclear

Crime

Gretchen Whitmer

Mass Shooting

Michigan

Mormonism

Politics

Federal authorities believe that the 40-year-old man accused of opening fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and killing four worshipers in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday &#8220;hated people of the Mormon faith,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends.&#8221;
During an interview on Monday morning, Leavitt said that based on her conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, &#8220;All they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note.&#8221;
&#8220;All of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,&#8221; Leavitt added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
FOX NEWS ALERT: <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> reveals the suspect in the Michigan church shooting “hated people of the Mormon faith.” <a href="https://t.co/IriLn85r0H">pic.twitter.com/IriLn85r0H</a>
— FOX &amp; Friends (@foxandfriends) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/1972645008907051221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Authorities have not said whether any writings or information point to a specific motive in the attack, but Leavitt said that the FBI is executing &#8220;multiple search warrants at the residences and family homes&#8221; of the suspected shooter.
The suspected gunman was identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a U.S. Marine veteran who was deployed to Iraq for nearly seven months in 2007. The 40-year-old man had no criminal history and lived in Burton, Michigan, which borders Grand Blanc Township. The pickup truck the alleged shooter used in the attack had two American flags displayed in its bed. In a photo uploaded to Facebook in 2019, the gunman was pictured wearing a &#8220;Trump 2020&#8221; shirt that read, &#8220;Make Liberals Cry Again,&#8221; NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-we-know-thomas-jacob-sanford-suspect-michigan-church-shooting-rcna234309">reported</a>.
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The attacker was carrying explosive devices when he drove his Chevy Silverado into the church building on Sunday, but authorities said it was unclear if he used them. Officials believe that the gunman used gas to start a fire in the church, a blaze that engulfed the entire building. The 40-year-old veteran allegedly opened fire on congregants with a semiautomatic rifle. Two people were killed from gunshot wounds, and two more people were found dead in the church after first responders arrived. Another eight people were wounded in the attack.
Police responded to the shooting within 30 seconds and pursued the shooter to a parking lot behind the church, where the suspect was shot and killed.
On Sunday night, the FBI asked anyone with information about the attack to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit <a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">tips.fbi.gov</a>.

Feds Believe Michigan Church Shooter ‘Hated People Of The Mormon Faith’

Church

Karoline Leavitt

kash patel

U.S.

Multiple people are dead and many more injured after a man opened fire at a Michigan church, President Donald Trump orders troops to Portland, and the FBI admits there were agents in the crowd on J6.
It’s Monday, September 29, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Church Attacked In Michigan</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-977957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Michigan-Church-Attacked-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Michigan-Church-Attacked-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Michigan-Church-Attacked-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Michigan-Church-Attacked-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Michigan-Church-Attacked-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Michigan-Church-Attacked.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Tragedy rocked a small town in Michigan after a man targeted a Mormon church on Sunday, opening fire on the congregants and leaving the building ablaze.
The horrific attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc left the church completely engulfed in flames. Grand Blanc is a small community of about 8,000 people and a suburb of Flint, about 50 miles from Detroit.
The shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. ET, while the church was in service. Hundreds of people were worshiping when the gunman rammed his truck into the building. He then opened fire on congregants, shooting at least 10 people. At some point, the church was set on fire; officials believe the fire was intentionally set by the suspect, perhaps using an accelerant such as gasoline.
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According to police, the gunman was killed in a shootout with authorities. At least four people have been confirmed killed, not including the gunman, and multiple others were wounded. Officials have stated that they fear the casualty count will rise due to the fire.
The gunman: The shooter was a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan, just a few miles from the church, according to police.
A pickup truck was used to ram through the church. Reports say that the vehicle had two large American flags in the cab. Other reports have said the suspect is an Iraq War veteran.
Authorities said they have targeted the gunman’s home with search warrants and are going through cell phone records to find out more about the motive.
Step back: This comes a month after the deadly shooting that targeted the Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota.
Washington reacts: President Donald Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115283020712432544">issued</a> a statement saying that this “appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.” He asked that Americans “PRAY for the victims, and their families,” and added, quote, “THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel also responded quickly, confirming that federal agents were on the scene to assist local authorities. Patel <a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2025/09/28/fatal-shooting-and-fire-at-michigan-mormon-church-police-say/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">added</a> that “violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Deploys Troops To Portland</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-977959" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Crime-Crackdown-Expands-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Crime-Crackdown-Expands-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Crime-Crackdown-Expands-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Crime-Crackdown-Expands-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Crime-Crackdown-Expands-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Crime-Crackdown-Expands.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: President Trump continues to take his crime crackdown nationwide, announcing plans to deploy troops to Portland to protect ICE facilities. 
President Trump is clearly feeling emboldened to expand his efforts after the successful operation in DC. Now, he is looking for similar results in Portland, Oregon, a city ravaged by crime and violent political riots over the last five years.
Writing on Truth Social on Saturday, the president announced: “At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland … I am authorizing Full Force, if necessary.” 
Why Portland? Trump says the city is the epicenter of activity for &#8220;Antifa,&#8221; the far-left political movement that has been linked to riots and violent demonstrations for years now.
Militants have repeatedly laid siege to ICE processing facilities in the city, attacking agents with rocks, fireworks, and smoke grenades, blocking entrances, setting fires, and even doxxing federal agents, posting their home addresses on message boards and flyers around the city, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In response to that violence in Portland and elsewhere, last week, Trump issued an executive order saying, &#8220;I hereby designate Antifa as a &#8216;domestic terrorist organization.&#8217;” calling it a “militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government” while using a “campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide to accomplish these goals.” 
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller <a href="https://x.com/Huberton/status/1971953265408725073">said</a> earlier this month: “The Antifa riots, the attacks on ICE officers, the doxxing campaigns, and now the political assassinations. These are not lone, isolated events. This is part of an organized campaign of radical left terrorism. It is structured and sophisticated, well-funded, it is well planned … It is terrorism on our soil.”
Portland pushes back: Flyers were reportedly posted around the city, calling on members to “Squad up. Make travel plans. Bring PPE and your unhinged Portland energy.”
Democratic lawmakers in the city have doubled down on their opposition to Trump — the city’s official website has a permanent banner at the very top that reads “Portland is a sanctuary city.” The site links to an anti-ICE hotline and reassures residents that local law enforcement will not cooperate with federal immigration agents. Over the weekend, Democratic lawmakers from across the city decried Trump’s efforts as authoritarian, saying they had things under control.
Oregon Democratic Governor Tina Kotek <a href="https://x.com/KatieDaviscourt/status/1972054518994190732">said</a> on Saturday: “Portland and the state of Oregon believe in the rule of law, and we can manage our own local public safety needs. There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our major city. They are not needed here.”
On Sunday, Oregon and Portland filed a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration in an effort to block the deployment of the state’s National Guard. Their suit claimed in part, “Far from promoting public safety, Defendants’ provocative and arbitrary actions threaten to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">January 6th Revelations</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-977961" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Agents-In-The-Crowd-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Agents-In-The-Crowd-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Agents-In-The-Crowd-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Agents-In-The-Crowd-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Agents-In-The-Crowd-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Agents-In-The-Crowd.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The FBI placed hundreds of plainclothes agents in the crowd around the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The years-long refusal by the FBI to acknowledge those 274 agents until now has raised many questions about past bureau leadership.
Trump weighs in: President Trump aired some frustration on his <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115277207989888806">Truth Social</a> account on Saturday. He wrote, “This is different from what [former FBI Director Christopher Wray] stated, over and over again!” Trump lumped in Wray with former FBI Director James Comey as two officials who “got caught lying.” The president later told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-weighs-whether-doj-investigate-former-fbi-director-christopher-w-rcna234225">NBC News</a> that he “would certainly imagine” that Wray is being investigated by the Justice Department.
The new sheriff: FBI Director Kash Patel <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbis-patel-clarifies-role-hundreds-agents-jan-6-says-wray-lied-congress">clarified</a> that the plainclothes agents were sent in “against FBI standards” after the riot had started for crowd control, and that “[t]his was the failure of a corrupt leadership that lied to Congress and to the American people about what really happened.”
The hot seat: Wray is facing numerous questions, even from rank-and-file FBI agents who were present at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. An after-action report <a href="https://justthenews.com/accountability/fbi-bombshell-274-agents-sent-capitol-j6-many-later-complained-they-were-political">revealed</a> to Congress last week lists a host of issues that agents have had with FBI leadership. Several agents have expressed concerns that politics had deeply influenced the bureau’s mission over the course of Comey and Wray’s tenures.
Another indictment?: Republican Congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona said Wray “will be held accountable” and pointed to an <a href="https://x.com/RepAndyBiggsAZ/status/1679164288546529281">exchange</a> he had with Wray in 2023:
<blockquote>BIGGS: I thought I heard you say you didn&#8217;t know whether there were FBI agents or informants or human sources in the Capitol or in the vicinity on January 6th. Did I misunderstand you? I thought that&#8217;s what you said. 
WRAY: I referred very specifically to undercover agents.
BIGGS: And so are you acknowledging, then, there were undercover agents?
WRAY: As I sit here right now, I do not believe there were undercover agents on scene.</blockquote>
Worth noting: If it comes to an indictment, some have disputed that “plainclothes” is synonymous with “undercover.” Additionally, Wray made it clear that he believed his statements to be true, but stopped short of explicitly stating they were true. This ambiguity underscores that, regardless of the frustration over the FBI, perjury cases are challenging to win convictions in.

MRN 9.29.25 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Tragedy In Michigan, Crackdown In Portland, & FBI’s J6 Role

Andy Biggs

Christopher Wray

Donald Trump

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

James Comey

January 6

Media

Morning Wire

National Guard

Oregon

Portland

At least four victims have died, and multiple people are injured after a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, according to police.
The shooter &#8220;drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church&#8221; before opening fire, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/church-shooting-fire-michigan-09-28-25">according</a> to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. The suspect was later killed in a firefight with police, bringing the <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1972453438677193099">total</a> dead to at least five.
The current status of the injured victims is unknown. The church fire was likely started by the shooter, according to Police Chief Renye.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Horrifying footage shows Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on fire after a gunman opened fire, shot multiple victims, and set the building on fire
Pray. <a href="https://t.co/IyU4cp1a9v">pic.twitter.com/IyU4cp1a9v</a> <a href="https://t.co/WxvcvoUv68">https://t.co/WxvcvoUv68</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1972334175979229378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump released a statement on the shooting and fire, saying that he has &#8220;been briefed,&#8221; and to &#8220;pray for the victims and their families.&#8221;
Police have identified the shooter as a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan. The shooter was a U.S. Marines veteran who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/iraq-war-veteran-thomas-sanford-idd-as-gunman-who-attacked-grand-blanc-lds-church-killing-2-and-setting-it-ablaze/">New York Post</a>.
In the attack, the shooter ran his truck, a Chevrolet Silverado, into the church before opening fire on congregants with a semiautomatic rifle. He also set fire to the church. The blaze soon enveloped most of the building.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a <a href="https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1972332977641451994">post</a> on X that FBI agents are responding to the shooting “to provide any requested support necessary.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1972332612929634470">posted</a> that she is receiving briefings “about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.” She also noted that federal agents with the FBI and ATF are responding.
“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy,” said Bondi.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer <a href="https://x.com/govwhitmer/status/1972333355380384170?s=46&amp;t=N2CGTmIA8Rg3XdjDvmfCjw">responded</a> to news of the shooting on X: “My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc close.”
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

Michigan LDS Church

At Least 4 Dead, Multiple Injured, And Church Burned After Mass Shooting In Michigan

Dan Bongino

Pam Bondi

Asylum Seeking Migrants Wait In Line For Immigration Customs Enforcement Appointments

Another Horrifying Reason We Need Mass Deportations Immediately

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Islam

Leftists

Matt Walsh

Minnesota

Muslims

Opinion

Public Schools

Schools

Somalia

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against six states on Thursday, following the Justice Department’s accusation that they had failed to comply with federal law by refusing to turn over voter registration records. 
The Justice Department says that the states have not provided the requested documentation to show that they maintain clean and accurate voter rolls. The lawsuits target Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and New York. 
“Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Every state has a responsibility to ensure that voter registration records are accurate, accessible, and secure — states that don’t fulfill that obligation will see this Department of Justice in court.”
The lawsuits <a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1415151/dl?inline">allege</a> that the states have violated provisions of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, which give the attorney general the authority to inspect states’ voter rolls. As part of the suit, the Justice Department wants records that would include a voter’s driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. 
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“States are required to safeguard American elections by complying with our federal elections laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Clean voter rolls protect American citizens from voting fraud and abuse, and restore their confidence that their states’ elections are conducted properly, with integrity, and in compliance with the law.”
Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson responded to the suit by stating that state law prohibits her from disclosing personally identifiable information to the federal government.
“States can and must hold the line. Only state and local election officials – not the president, the DOJ, or any other federal agency – have the right to people’s private voter information. The people of Michigan have entrusted this department with their personal data, and I will stand up to this illegal and unconstitutional power grab,” she said. 
The other defendant states have made similar arguments, objecting to the release of their residents’ identifying information.
Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters said that the suit would be “an important step toward restoring confidence in our elections.”
“Voters deserve to know that their states are removing ineligible individuals — including the deceased, criminals, out-of-state movers, and non-citizens — from the rolls,” he said.

President Trump Speaks On Recent Supreme Court Rulings At The White House

Justice Dept Sues Six States For Refusing To Hand Over Key Voter Data

Courts

Department of Justice

Voter Registration

The Muslim mayor of Dearborn, Michigan — which has a large Muslim population — told a local Christian man that he was <a href="https://www.themidwesterner.news/2025/09/dearborn-muslim-mayor-unleashes-on-christian-resident-at-city-meeting-you-are-not-welcome-here/">not welcome in the city</a> after the man questioned the city honoring a Muslim journalist who has reportedly praised the terrorist group Hezbollah.
The confrontation occurred at a Dearborn city council meeting, when Christian resident Ted Barham voiced his opposition to renaming Warren Avenue after local Arab American journalist Osama Siblani. Barham cited the journalist’s history of praising Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated as a terrorist organization, and expressing anti-Israel sentiments.
Rather than engaging with these concerns, Hammoud delivered a sharp message: “Although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here.” The mayor reportedly added that the day Barham moves out of the city would be marked by a celebratory parade.
Siblani, who arrived in the U.S. in 1976 and founded The Arab American News, has publicly glorified Hezbollah and openly wished harm on Israel, even threatening to send Israeli Jews “back to Poland,” according to MEMRI. During a 2024 rally in Dearborn, when chants of “death to Israel” filled the air, Siblani assured the crowd that Hezbollah would “take care of the job,” a likely euphemism for violent eradication of the Jewish state.
“Siblani has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bolstering the influence of those who support his views on U.S. politics,&#8221; MEMRI <a href="https://www.memri.org/reports/delegation-middle-east-michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer-includes-dearborn-michigan">reported</a>, &#8220;In November 2023, Siblani boasted that Muslims are <a href="https://www.memri.org/tv/deraborn-michigan-palestine-rally-adam-abusalah-biden-cancer-mayor-abdullah-hammoud-resistance">on the road to a great victory in D.C. and Palestine</a>, and that the White House and Washington are full of ‘bloodthirsty killers’ who need to be ‘cleaned out.’ In May 2024, <a href="https://www.memri.org/tv/michigan-based-editor-arab-american-news-osama-siblani-on-way-white-house-congress">he said</a>: ‘I can very confidently tell you that we are on the road to the White House, to Congress, to the decision-making everywhere in the United States.’”
Siblani remains a celebrated figure among local officials, including Hammoud, who honored him alongside other political leaders at the street sign ceremony. Meanwhile, Barham was publicly labeled an “Islamophobe,” with the mayor accusing him of bigotry based on a 2019 YouTube video that a subsequent review found contained no derogatory remarks about Islam.
As The Detroit Free Press <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2025/09/12/mayor-abdullah-hammoud-dearborn-resident-not-welcome-osama-siblani-signs/86107427007/">noted</a>:
<blockquote>
In a video, uploaded in 2019, Barham is seen briefly in front of the Islamic Center of America, singing a Christmas carol. He then is later seen interviewing Muslims on what appears to be a university campus, having discussions about theology, dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and what Jesus looked like. Barham is not heard saying anything derogatory about Islam.
</blockquote>
Michigan&#8217;s Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer, rumored to be eyeing a 2028 presidential run, along with other Democrats like Rep. Debbie Dingell, have not taken a stance on the decision to rename the street for Siblani, or the attack on Barham for opposing it.
The Michigan city of Dearborn now has a majority Arab population.

exit sign

Muslim Mayor In Dearborn, Michigan Tells Christian Resident: ‘You Are Not Welcome Here’

Dearborn

Muslim

As Michigan lawmakers debate next year&#8217;s budget, the Democratic lieutenant governor — who&#8217;s running for governor in 2026 — floated an idea to hit back at some of the Trump administration&#8217;s spending cuts and get more money into the state government&#8217;s coffers: raise taxes on the wealthiest Trump supporters.
In a video obtained by The Daily Wire, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist told a group of Democrats earlier this month that the Trump administration has &#8220;attacked our people&#8221; by cutting funding to universities and &#8220;attacking those of us who are getting our health care from Medicaid.&#8221; Gilchrist made the remarks during a video call with the Kent County, Michigan, Democratic Party on August 13 as he gears up for a competitive Democratic primary in the 2026 Michigan governor&#8217;s race.
&#8220;We&#8217;re going to fight back and say, &#8216;Hell no, we&#8217;re not going to accept that,'&#8221; Gilchrist added. &#8220;And frankly, it pisses me off that we don&#8217;t have enough money in Michigan to be able to afford to backfill this $1.1 billion hole we&#8217;ve blown in the budget. I know how we could get a little bit more of that money — if we actually tax the wealthiest mega MAGA rich people in this state &#8230; if we actually went after the biggest companies that got a tax cut from [former Republican Governor] Rick Snyder and the Republicans.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
In a video I&#8217;ve obtained for <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a>, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist — a top candidate for governor — tells a group of Democrats via video call that he wants to raise taxes on a specific political class: &#8220;mega MAGA rich people.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/2rsPUCgFDK">pic.twitter.com/2rsPUCgFDK</a>
— Zach Jewell (@zach_d_jewell) <a href="https://twitter.com/zach_d_jewell/status/1961099735743557634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Raising taxes on some people based on their political leanings wouldn&#8217;t be possible and would run into numerous legal issues if it were even attempted. Gilchrist&#8217;s suggestion to hit wealthy Trump supporters with higher taxes is also a questionable political tactic, given that Michigan is a swing state that President Trump won in both 2016 and 2024.
The lieutenant governor&#8217;s comments, however, played well with the Democratic base, as the audience broke out into applause and cheers when Gilchrist suggested taxing wealthy Trump supporters. In the video, Gilchrist calls into the meeting from an airport in New York City despite the Kent County Democratic Party <a href="https://midems.controlshift.app/events/kent-dems-august-2025-monthly-meeting?partner=kent-county-democratic-party&amp;source=facebook-share-button&amp;time=1754939773&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;share=ac60ac7d-0558-48bf-a953-e21fa4e54b6f&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawMIbFVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHouCBhh02s5zXqIir3YTKs5Y9jSlIg_Y_sBS2GI86HNcKWrnwXnL_WB4Mho0_aem_fMy07Q0O2DqWgzEbplvKxg">saying</a> that the &#8220;Social Hour&#8221; would be &#8220;hosted&#8221; by the lieutenant governor.
The $1.1 billion figure referenced by Gilchrist refers to a report released last month by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, which claims that because of Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8221; the state will have to come up with a massive chunk of money to make up for Trump&#8217;s cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food benefits, according to <a href="https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/report-big-beautiful-bill-will-blow-11-billion-hole-michigan-budget/">Bridge Michigan</a>. The report <a href="https://crcmich.org/publications/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-and-its-impact-on-michigans-budget">stated</a> that Michigan &#8220;will need to cut around $1.1 billion in General Fund/General Purpose appropriations from the FY2026 Executive Budget proposal.&#8221;
Republican state Rep. Ann Bollin, however, told The Daily Wire that the House has put forward a plan that incorporates all of the federal guidelines under the &#8220;Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8221; such as the work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, without putting the state in a financial hole.
&#8220;We have managed to build a budget that takes into account what those federal requirements are,&#8221; Bollin said. &#8220;Those federal requirements are not extensive. I mean, they are work requirements. That is not a high threshold.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;re implementing the research and development tax credit, we&#8217;re incorporating the $250 million that the feds are giving us for rural hospitals. We are offering relief to individuals with the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime, and social security,&#8221; Bollin continued.
She added that it&#8217;s good for the Trump administration to implement work requirements for programs like SNAP, saying that &#8220;Michigan has to address its very high SNAP error rate,&#8221; and root out fraud.
&#8220;I think we&#8217;re going to find that this budget is going to deliver on protecting the most vulnerable and keeping within some financial constraints, but also that it&#8217;s fiscally sustainable for us as a state,&#8221; Bollin said.
The Michigan legislature is currently negotiating a budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins on October 1. Lawmakers have already passed the July 1 statutory deadline to present a budget plan to the governor, as the Democrat-controlled state Senate and Republican-controlled state House work to get something passed, The Detroit Free Press <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/26/whitmer-budget-negotiations-shutdown-brinks-hall/85813967007/">reported</a>.
While Gilchrist is suggesting raising taxes on Michigan residents, Republicans have proposed slashing state government spending. On Tuesday, Michigan House Republicans, led by Republican Speaker Matt Hall, unveiled a $78.5 billion budget proposal that would cut state government jobs and spending, while still putting forward a $3 billion plan for fixing the roads, an issue that Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer said must be included in any budget proposal.
Michigan currently has a flat 4.25% income tax for all residents and a 6% corporate income tax, with a 1.8% alternative rate for small businesses. Last year, under Democratic leadership, the income tax increased from 4.05% to 4.25%.
The Gilchrist campaign has not responded to a Daily Wire inquiry asking how much Gilchrist wants to raise taxes on Michigan&#8217;s wealthiest Trump supporters.

Garlin Gilchrist/Trump supporters

Top Dem Gov Candidate Proposes Tax Hike On ‘Mega MAGA Rich People’ To Fix Potential Budget Hit

Democrats

MAGA

Taxes

Trump Supporters

The president of a major medical organization made wild claims about the benefits of transgender procedures on kids during a conversation with a Michigan lawmaker before falling back on so-called “experts,” according to video footage <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2267-trump-protects-the-american-flag-plus-we-break-a-major-story?elementPosition=3&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">published</a> by the Ben Shapiro Show on Tuesday. 
During a video call earlier this year, American Medical Association (AMA) President Bobby Mukkamala defended his organization’s support for transgender procedures on kids by saying they relied on what “experts” had told them. Mukkamala also claimed that puberty blockers were reversible and cited other questionable statistics about transgender regret and suicide rates. 
Mukkamala made the comments during a call with Michigan Rep. Brad Paquette and Dr. Eithan Haim, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-doctor-blew-the-whistle-on-his-hospitals-transgender-clinic-now-the-feds-are-trying-to-ruin-his-life">doctor who exposed</a> Texas Children’s Hospital for doing transgender procedures on kids.  When pressed on the American Medical Association’s <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/ama-press-releases/ama-states-stop-interfering-health-care-transgender-children">advocacy</a> for transgender procedures on kids, Mukkamala said that the association effectively rubberstamps whatever “the experts” tell them. 
“Neither one of us spent an hour working on transgender care, neither one of us,” Mukkamala told Haim in the footage obtained by Shapiro. “So we have no business discussing the science that&#8217;s brought to the American Medical Association from people that spent years in training for this, and years taking care of patients for this.”
The call was arranged by Paquette, a Republican who represents the southwest corner of Michigan, who was looking to discuss the AMA&#8217;s endorsement of transgender procedures on kids. Paquette supports shielding kids from transgender procedures and introduced a bill in May that would have banned them in Michigan.
The American Medical Association is the largest association of medical professionals in the United States and plays a powerful role in medical education, ethics, and advocacy.
&#8220;This footage is pretty catastrophic for the AMA,&#8221; Shapiro said. &#8220;It proves beyond any doubt that their support for trans &#8216;healthcare&#8217; is based on fake science, willful blindness, and a total abandonment of all evidence-based medicine — all of which are supposed to be antithetical to the existence of their organization, a violation of the Hippocratic Oath.&#8221;
WATCH BEN&#8217;S FULL EPISODE ON AMA: 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="LEAKED FOOTAGE: American Medical Association Exposed" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2hsAz7h07U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Throughout the call, Haim pressed Mukkamala to provide evidence that transgender procedures don&#8217;t have damaging long-term impacts on kids. When he brought up the flawed studies frequently cited by WPATH and other proponents of transgender procedures, Mukkamala said that he relied on the interpretations of others and didn’t look at them himself.
“I don&#8217;t look at them. I rely on a specialty society to look at them and then give us their opinion of them. I&#8217;m not an expert at all. And honestly, I don&#8217;t think you are either,” he said. “I&#8217;m not an expert at all. I&#8217;m not an expert at all in the science that you&#8217;re talking to me about. I defer to the experts.”
At one point, Mukkamala clearly mocks Haim for even asking questions about the issue.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EXCLUSIVE: Secretly recorded call with American Medical Association President, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, reveals an alarming abdication of responsibility on &#8220;gender-affirming care&#8221; at the highest level of medicine.
Confronted with &#8216;puberty blocker&#8217; side effects, Dr. Bobby evades: <a href="https://t.co/PCqHqNpjts">pic.twitter.com/PCqHqNpjts</a>
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1960403515999690972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Commenting on Mukkamala&#8217;s repeated claims that he was not an expert,  Shapiro said that he should at least be aware of the ethical issues surrounding transgender medicine.
&#8220;And sure, he’s not an expert in endocrinology or plastic surgery,&#8221; Shapiro said. &#8220;But as the President of the AMA, he’s meant to be an expert in the AMA’s code of ethics, and at the bare minimum, the Hippocratic Oath.&#8221;
Mukkamala also claimed during the call that puberty blockers were reversible. Studies have shown that puberty blockers can cause permanent damage to fertility and loss of bone density, especially in the hips and spine. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
3/ CLAIM: The AMA’s Dr. Bobby asserts that so-called “puberty blockers” are “reversible,” dismissing Dr. Haim’s attempts to correct him—despite Dr. Haim having worked with patients who need puberty blockers for actual endocrine disorders and being well versed in their harms. <a href="https://t.co/nHYvgnBiQr">pic.twitter.com/nHYvgnBiQr</a>
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1960403521141887136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He also suggested that between 50-70% of transgender individuals commit suicide and that only 2% of those who have medical transgender procedures regret those procedures. Both numbers are suspect, as even the most extreme studies only say that up to 40% of transgender identifying people have attempted suicide. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
5/ CLAIM: Dr. Bobby insists there is only a 2% regret rate among those who medically ‘transition,’ and cites his source as the doctors who perform the transing of the kids. An unbiased group if ever there was one… <a href="https://t.co/kLDFzHAByd">pic.twitter.com/kLDFzHAByd</a>
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1960403528066707955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The 2% regret rate comes from a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33968550/">study</a> that only measured after surgery, not the tens of thousands of kids who have been placed on puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones. It also did not measure regret past two years after the initial surgery. 
After Paquette told Mukkamala that he was upset by what he was hearing about kids being pushed to transition, he said that “the way to not be distraught is to talk to experts.”
Mukkamala also appeared to claim that sex change surgeries were not happening on kids in Michigan. This conflicts with data <a href="https://stoptheharmdatabase.com/state/michigan/">compiled</a> by Do No Harm that shows that there have been at least 186 kids who have undergone a transgender surgery in Michigan. 
The American Medical Association has been a staunch defender of transgender procedures on kids for years. In April 2021, the organization sent a <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/ama-press-releases/ama-states-stop-interfering-health-care-transgender-children">letter</a> to governors across the country urging them not to protect kids from transgender procedures. 
“Empirical evidence has demonstrated that trans and non-binary gender identities are normal variations of human identity and expression,” the organization wrote. “It is imperative that transgender minors be given the opportunity to explore their gender identity under the safe and supportive care of a physician.”
Then, in a 2022 speech, then-American Medical Association President Jack Resneck Jr. claimed that opposition to transgender procedures on kids was driven by “misinformation.” 
“Drivers of disinformation say that gender-affirming care clinics are performing genital mutilation surgeries on teens, not involving families in care decisions, or using medical treatments on young children who show up after wondering for one day if they are trans,” he said.
Advocates of radical gender ideology will frequently cite organizations like the American Medical Association for reasons why the procedures should remain legal. Over two dozen states have acted in the last few years to ban transgender surgeries on minors.
WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The AMA’s Dr. Bobby Mukkamala on “Gender Affirming Care”" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mxb1qG-yvzY?start=4&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

MixCollage-26-Aug-2025-02-06-PM-282

Leaked Footage Exposes Top Med Org’s Support For Trans Procedures On Kids: ‘I’m Not An Expert At All’

American Medical Association

Ben Shapiro

Medical Research

The Ben Shapiro Show

Transgender

transgender surgery

In a TikTok video on Monday, a Michigan Democratic legislator offered to help children access “gender-affirming” care if they contacted her office.
Michigan State Rep. Carrie Rheingans said in the video that she was specifically talking to “trans kids here in Michigan,” adding that life-altering gender procedures are still legal in the state. Wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” sweatshirt, the Michigan Democrat posted the video Monday in response to the University of Michigan’s hospital network <a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2025/08/25/university-of-michigan-health-ends-gender-affirming-care-after-doj-subpoena/">ending</a> gender procedures for minors under pressure from the Department of Justice.
In her video, Rheingans told children that they could still get “care” at other places in Michigan.
“I want you to know, as trans kids here in Michigan, that this care is obviously safe and effective. That’s why it’s been approved and why it’s been used all across the country and continues to be used,” she added. “So if you need to find a new place to get care it is still legal here in Michigan, and reach out to our office, we’ll be able to connect you to what might still be available in our community.”
Rheingans, who represents Ann Arbor, urged children to “please contact our office” and provided contact information.
“We love you. We are really supportive of you as kids, and we want to make sure that you can grow up and thrive here in Michigan,” she added.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@reprheingans/video/7542692547190181151" data-video-id="7542692547190181151">
<section><a title="@reprheingans" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@reprheingans?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@reprheingans</a> 🏳️‍⚧️ <a title="transkids" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/transkids?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#TransKids</a> in <a title="michigan" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/michigan?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Michigan</a>: we live you and want to see you grow and thrive here 🩵🤍🩷 <a title="genderaffirmingcare" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/genderaffirmingcare?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#GenderAffirmingCare</a> <a title="♬ original sound - MI State RepCarrie Rheingans" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7542692567620602655?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound &#8211; MI State RepCarrie Rheingans</a></section>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;
The federal government and medical establishment previously pushed gender procedures for children as an effective way to treat gender dysphoria, but the practice has come under intense <a href="https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/gender-dysphoria-report-exec-summary.pdf">scrutiny</a> as new research highlights the dangers of performing life-altering gender surgeries and puberty blockers. A Health and Human Services <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hhs-releases-damning-review-of-gender-treatments-for-minors-the-risks-cannot-be-ignored">review</a> released earlier this year, shortly after President Donald Trump took office, stated, “These interventions carry risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret.”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">End of Summer Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Even before Trump stepped into the White House, the federal government was changing its tune on gender procedures for children. Last summer, the Biden administration opposed lowering the age minimums for hormonal treatments, mastectomies, breast augmentations, facial, and genital surgeries, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/health/transgender-surgery-biden.html">reported</a>.
The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to hospitals that continue to perform gender procedures on children, resulting in many large hospitals such as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/health-care-puts-stop-to-trans-surgeries-on-kids">Kaiser Permanente</a> and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/us-hospitals-ending-gender-affirming-care-minors-impact/story?id=124889031">Children’s National Hospital</a> ending the practice.
Michigan Republican state Rep. Brad Paquette, who is leading an effort in the Great Lakes State to protect children from gender procedures, told The Daily Wire that he has a “good relationship” with Rheingans and has discussed the issue with her “pretty extensively.”
“So here in the state of Michigan, one of the unfortunate aspects is my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are completely captured by this ideology, this gender theory,” Paquette said. “So I’m trying to do my best to figure out how to get my colleagues informed as to what these procedures are.”
“She has this mentality that she carries — that the trans activists carry — that there are safe spaces, that you’re an ally or you’re not,” Paquette added. “And this causes an extreme divide among families and in the political arena.”
Rheingans did not respond to a Daily Wire request for comment, but she did address some criticism of her video on social media.
“Horrifying because I told children that I love them. Calm down,” she <a href="https://x.com/RepRheingans/status/1960364046546244058">replied</a> to one post from conservative communicator Steve Guest, who said it was “one of the most horrifying videos that I’ve ever seen posted by a politician.”
“Kids need to see that some grownups love them, and not all are bullies,” she <a href="https://x.com/RepRheingans/status/1960373622473691545">wrote</a> in another post.
Rheingans has made LGBT issues a significant part of her political agenda, saying earlier this year that she was “proud to vote YES to expand Michigan’s civil rights law,” which added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🫶🏻 Thank you to our many constituents and advocates from @equality_michigan for sharing your stories and being your beautiful selves! I was proud to vote YES to expand <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Michigan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Michigan</a>&#8216;s civil rights law &#8230; 1/2 <a href="https://t.co/2M3mtsfooo">pic.twitter.com/2M3mtsfooo</a>
— Rep. Carrie Rheingans (@RepRheingans) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRheingans/status/1923327547858731264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
In 2024, Rheingans spoke at the Ann Arbor Pride Festival and <a href="https://archive.ph/VU0Dl#selection-1603.0-1606.0">urged</a> gay people to run for office.
“If you have never thought about running for office, we need more gays in office, go run for office,” she said. “We need to have a bigger LGBTQ caucus.”

Trans flag

‘Please Contact Our Office’: Dem Lawmaker Tells Kids That She’ll Help Them Undergo Gender Procedures

Children

LGBT

Social Issues

TikTok

A judge in Traverse City, Michigan, raised the bond for mass stabbing suspect Bradford James Gille to $1 million on Wednesday, following public <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-judge-blasted-for-low-bond-in-walmart-terror-stabbing-case">outcry</a> over a previous judge&#8217;s decision to set the bond at $100,000.
At a bond review hearing on Wednesday, Judge Michael Stepka of the 86th District Court pointed to the seriousness of the charges and the risk that Gille would potentially skip future court dates to justify the increase, The Detroit News <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/07/30/walmart-stabbing-suspect-has-bond-increased-to-1-million/85447459007/">reported</a>. Stepka said that raising the bond &#8220;will assure the victims and the public in general that it&#8217;s unlikely Mr. Gille is going to get out.&#8221;
The day before Gille allegedly went on a stabbing rampage, wounding 11 people at a Traverse City Walmart last Saturday, authorities in Petoskey, Michigan — which is around 70 miles north of Traverse City — obtained a court order to place Gille in protective custody. The order was issued after Gille had multiple concerning encounters with Petoskey police, and authorities were actively searching for him when the mass stabbing took place.
The prosecution asked the judge during Wednesday&#8217;s hearing to completely revoke Gille&#8217;s bond, but Stepka said that Michigan&#8217;s Rules of Criminal Procedure require a defendant to be charged with murder or to have two previous convictions for violent felonies in the past 15 years for bond to be revoked, according to The Detroit News. Gille was charged with 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and terrorism. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle R. Moeggenberg also argued for Gille&#8217;s bond to be revoked over a &#8220;gun gesture&#8221; that he allegedly made at a camera during his first court appearance earlier this week. Gille&#8217;s defense attorney, Janet Mistele, disputed Moeggenberg&#8217;s statement.
Mistele also said that neither Gille nor his family has the resources to secure his release under the $100,000 bond. Gille would have had to come up with $10,000 to secure release with a bail bondsman, but now he&#8217;ll have to post $100,000 to work out his release, which is extremely unlikely.
After Gille&#8217;s first court appearance in front of Magistrate Tammi Rodgers, the judge was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-judge-blasted-for-low-bond-in-walmart-terror-stabbing-case">criticized</a> for setting a $100,000 bond and telling him he could not visit any Walmart.
“Eligible for bond? This individual just went on a rampage, and by the grace of God didn’t end anyone’s life,” said Michigan state Senate Minority Leader and Republican gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt. “Allowing him to be released into the community spits in the face of those who protect and serve, and only puts more people at risk.”
Gille has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement over the years. In 2017, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity after he was charged with dismembering and mutilating dead bodies he had dug up at a cemetery.

Walmart/Bradford James Gille mugshot

Judge Increases Bond For Walmart Stabbing Suspect After Public Outcry

Judge

Stabbing

A Michigan district court judge was criticized on Monday after setting a $100,000 bond for the man charged with terrorism in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-mass-stabbing-suspect-identified-charged-with-terrorism">stabbing attack</a> at a Traverse City, Michigan, Walmart over the weekend.
In a video arraignment for suspect James Bradford Gille, Magistrate Tammi Rodgers said Gille has been charged with &#8220;heinous&#8221; crimes, which include 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg requested that Rodgers set a significant bond due to the seriousness of the charges and Gille&#8217;s history of mental illness and previous run-ins with law enforcement, West Michigan ABC affiliate, WZZM 13 <a href="https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/traverse-city-walmart-stabbing-suspect-arraigned/69-4f3e4b38-b1b5-4286-925b-ad2b65180e83">reported</a>.
The judge set the bond at $100,000, adding that if he&#8217;s able to post bond, he would be barred from using alcohol or any non-prescribed drugs. She also barred him from possessing any weapons or using &#8220;any object as a weapon&#8221; and said he could not visit any Walmart.
Gille is accused of going on a stabbing rampage near the checkout line at Walmart on Saturday, wounding 11 people before he was stopped by bystanders, including Marine <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9UJ7g2ETCA">Derrick Perry</a>, who held him at gunpoint in the parking lot until police arrived.
&#8220;He was wild-eyed, and he did not look like he was in his right mind. And he was saying, &#8216;They told me to do it. They told me to do it,&#8221; Perry said during an interview with &#8220;Good Morning America.&#8221;
The $100,000 bond means that Gille only has to come up with $10,000 on his own, but it appears unlikely that he has that money or that he&#8217;ll find a bail bondsman willing to work with him, independent journalist Dave Bondy <a href="https://x.com/DaveBondyTV/status/1949966995971022936">reported</a>.
During his arraignment, Gille was asked by the judge if he had money in his bank account, seeking to determine if he could afford his own legal counsel.
&#8220;Not to give you,&#8221; the suspect replied, according to <a href="https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/traverse-city-walmart-stabbing-suspect-arraigned/69-4f3e4b38-b1b5-4286-925b-ad2b65180e83">WZZM 13</a>.
Gille was also asked how to pronounce his name and told the judge, &#8220;Yeah, I don&#8217;t want to talk to you.&#8221;
Gille pleaded not guilty and requested a court-appointed attorney. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 12.
&#8220;Eligible for bond? This individual just went on a rampage, and by the grace of God didn’t end anyone’s life,&#8221; said Michigan state Senate Minority Leader and Republican gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt. &#8220;Allowing him to be released into the community spits in the face of those who protect and serve, and only puts more people at risk.&#8221;
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Eligible for bond? This individual just went on a rampage, and by the grace of God didn’t end anyone’s life. 
Allowing him to be released into the community spits in the face of those who protect and serve, and only puts more people at risk. <a href="https://t.co/CK6c2KGykS">pic.twitter.com/CK6c2KGykS</a>
&mdash; Senator Aric Nesbitt (@SenAricNesbitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenAricNesbitt/status/1949934995268575725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;They just want him to promise not to go back to Wal-Mart or do drugs. What in the world are they thinking?&#8221; Nesbitt <a href="https://x.com/aricnesbitt/status/1949936195573620961">added</a>.
Others on social media also sounded off on the low bond.
&#8220;He is facing terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder charges. Does that sound like public safety to you?&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/BreannaMorello/status/1949969352796635247">asked</a> independent journalist Breanna Morello.
Gille lives in Afton, Michigan, around 90 miles northeast of Traverse City, and has a history of mental illness. In 2017, Gille was found not guilty by reason of insanity after he was charged with dismembering and mutilating dead bodies he had dug up from a cemetery, the Detroit Free Press <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/07/28/bradford-james-gille-alton-michigan-traverse-city-stabbing/85404184007/">reported</a>.

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