A newly appointed White House communications official has found himself at the center of a political firestorm, forced to apologize for controversial social media posts from his past.
Tyler Cherry, recently promoted to Associate Communications Director in the Biden administration, issued a statement on Sunday addressing tweets from several years ago that have drawn sharp criticism from conservatives.
The controversy erupted shortly after Politico reported Cherry’s promotion from his previous role as communications director at the Interior Department. Screenshots of tweets dating back to 2014 and 2015 began circulating online, revealing strong criticisms of law enforcement, calls for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and statements supporting anti-Israel organizations.
Facing mounting pressure, Cherry took to X on Sunday to address the controversy. “Past social media posts from when I was younger do not reflect my current views. Period,” he stated. Cherry went on to affirm his support for the Biden administration’s agenda, emphasizing his focus on climate and environmental policies.
Newsweek contacted the White House for further comment via email on Sunday night.
Notably, these controversial tweets are no longer visible on Cherry’s current X account. Any posts on his account predating April 2022 appear to have been deleted, making it impossible to independently verify the screenshots that have been circulating. The handle @TylerACherry seen in the screenshots matches Cherry’s current X account name.
In one of the purported tweets from 2015, posted during the unrest following Freddie Gray’s death in police custody, Cherry allegedly wrote, “Praying for #Baltimore, but praying even harder for an end to a capitalistic police state motivated by explicit and implicit racial biases.”
Another post from the same period reportedly stated, “Time to recall that the modern day police system is a direct evolution of slave patrols and lynch mobs.”
The tweets also touched on major international issues. During the 2014 Gaza War, Cherry allegedly expressed support for Palestine, writing, “Cheersing in bars to ending the occupation of Palestine — no shame and f— your glares #ISupportGaza #FreePalestine.”
Past social media posts from when I was younger do not reflect my current views. Period. I support this Administration’s agenda – and will continue my communications work focused on our climate and environmental policies.
— Tyler Cherry (@TylerACherry) June 23, 2024
Cherry’s professional background includes three years of service at the Interior Department under Secretary Deb Haaland before his recent promotion to the White House. He is also known for his LGBTQ rights activism and involvement in Washington, D.C.’s creative community.
Conservative commentators have seized on the old tweets, questioning Cherry’s fitness for his current role and criticizing the Biden administration’s hiring decision. Some argue that the posts reflect a broader ideological stance within the administration, while others view them as youthful indiscretions that should not overshadow Cherry’s professional qualifications.
X user Ashley St. Clair replied to Cherry’s tweet 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?” then posting a screenshot of alleged past tweets from the staffer.
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? pic.twitter.com/pzdbBJg1dA
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) June 23, 2024
Another X user named Corey A. DeAngelis inquired, “Why did you just delete this tweet” shortly after Cherry posted his apology.
For now, the Biden administration appears to be standing firm in its support of Cherry. White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News Digital, “We’re very proud to have Tyler on the team.”
This support echoes the administration’s response to previous attacks on Cherry, who is openly gay and faced criticism for his appearance and professional demeanor in October of last year.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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