Rep. Goldman claims he ‘used the wrong word’ when he called for Trump to be ‘eliminated’

New York Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman apologized on Monday and said he misspoke when he called for former President Donald Trump to be “eliminated” — which some on social media argued could incite violence against the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner. 

“Yesterday on TV, I mistakenly used the wrong word to express the importance for America that Donald Trump doesn’t become President again,”Goldman said in X post. “While he must be defeated, I certainly wish no harm to him and do not condone political violence.” 

“I apologize for the poor choice of words,” he added. 

The New York lawmaker called for Trump, 77, to be “eliminated,” citing his “dangerous” rhetoric, during an interview with former White House press secretary Jen Psaki on MSNBC Sunday. 

“His rhetoric is really getting dangerous,” Goldman told Psaki. 

“More and more dangerous. We saw what happened on January 6th, when he used his inflammatory rhetoric now, and his recent truth social post is incredibly, incredibly scary for anyone that might be trying to work in government. And it is just unquestionable at this point that man cannot see public office again. He is not only unfit, he is destructive to our democracy, and he has to be eliminated,” the District 10 representative said. 

The Trump campaign told The Post Monday that Goldman’s remarks were unsurprising. 

“Democrats have been calling for violence against President Trump and his supporters since 2016. This is not new or surprising rhetoric from disgusting liberals,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.  

Conservatives on X were outraged by Goldman’s comments, with some arguing that the lawmaker was alluding to assassinating the former president. 

“If a Republican went on TV and said that a Democrat presidential candidate needed to be ‘eliminated’ they’d be raided by the FBI within hours. Donald Trump is facing half a millennia in prison for saying people should ‘fight,’” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk wrote on X. “Instead, Dan Goldman alludes to the assassination of Donald Trump and does so with zero consequences and zero fear of any consequences.”

“In the least, Goldman should be investigated by the Secret Service for this threat,” Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, demanded. 

Several argued that Goldman deserved to be censured in the House over his remark. 

“I hope Speaker Johnson censures this nut job!!!,” Trump-aligned GOP consultant Alex Bruesewitz posted on X. 

Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, served as the lead counsel for House Democrats during the first impeachment inquiry into Trump. He was elected to Congress in the 2022 midterm elections and represents parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan.