MI governor disturbed by Trump criticism and 'lock her up' chants

As President Donald Trump came under attack from Democrat leaders for prompting a "lock her up" rally chant on Saturday over a thwarted attempt to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee defended his rhetoric on Sunday.

The Michigan governor unleashed her critcisms on Saturday evening, while Trump spoke before a large crowd at a campaign rally in Muskegon.

"Lock them all up", Trump concurred.

To which the crowd began chanting "Lock her up!" "Get your governor to open up your state".

"Lock 'em all up", Trump said. Whitmer has been a target of Trump's ire for months, but he has been renewing his attacks on her ever since she tied his rhetoric to the recently-foiled militia plot to kidnap and murder her. People want to get the country reopened.

During his MI rally on Saturday night, Trump repeated his previous gripe that Whitmer should be more appreciative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for thwarting the alleged right-wing kidnapping plot.

Ronna McDaniel said it was "inappropriate" for Whitmer to blame Trump for putting her in harm's way, in an interview on ABC's "This Week".

Trump, who is in the midst of a campaign push amid slumping national polls, held rallies in MI and Wisconsin on Saturday, where there has been a recent surge in coronavirus cases.

"I guess they said she was threatened, right?"

"He wasn't doing anything, I don't think, to provoke people to threaten this woman at all", she told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday.

"Biden and the Democrats want to keep MI locked down and locked up and closed for business", Trump said. Host Jake Tapper pressed her repeatedly on whether the president should tone down his rhetoric, but she said critics were misinterpreting his rally comments. "He was having fun at a Trump rally, and, quite frankly, there are bigger issues than this for everyday Americans". It's a fun, light atmosphere. "We're glad she's safe, her family is safe". "Of course he wasn't encouraging people to threaten this woman; that's ridiculous".