UBC 'looking into' apparent post by professor celebrating Trump assassination attempt

A UBC professor has found herself at the centre of an online furore after a social media account in her name posted an apparent celebration of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

The account, which featured the name and photograph of Dr. Karen Pinder, who teaches at UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, has since been deleted.

Posts made by the account in the aftermath of the attempted murder of Trump included “Damn, so close. Too bad” and “What a glorious day this could have been!”

In a statement, a UBC representative told NowMedia it is “aware of Dr. Pinder’s post and is looking into the matter.”

The spokeswoman added: “The university does not condone violence of any kind.”

Trump was shot in the ear on Saturday while speaking to supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Politicians across the world have since urged their citizens to dial back the more extreme claims and insults that have become common across the West in recent years.

BC Premier David Eby said he was “deeply concerned” about the “horrific” attempt to murder Trump.

“The people of British Columbia abhor political violence in all of its forms,” he wrote on X.

This is so disappointing to see from a University of British Columbia Professor.

No classroom in this province should have room for this kind of radicalism.

This isn’t about left vs right — it’s about right vs wrong. #bcpoli https://t.co/eF6lLQU11f

— John Rustad (@JohnRustad4BC) July 14, 2024

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad, meanwhile, condemned both the assassination attempt and the post by the X account.

He said it was “so disappointing to see from a University of British Columbia professor.”

“No classroom in this province should have room for this kind of radicalism,” he wrote on X.

“This isn’t about left vs right — it’s about right vs wrong.”

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon also condemned the shooting of Trump, writing: “Democracy is sacred and must always be conducted free of violence.”

On the other side of the Rockies, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith today urged "progressive politicians" to be "careful of their language."

She added: "The way in which conservative politicians have been characterized is outrageous. And that has, I think, led to the culture we've seen in the US."