Mediate reports that the image of a Minnesota poll worker that inflamed MAGA Republicans and “spread like wildfire on social media for invoking the assassination of Charlie Kirk is not at all what it seems,” and the woman in question is a Republican herself, according to officials.
“The image, showing a woman wearing a bloodied shirt with the words “PROBLEM SOLVED,” was first shared by X user Dustin Grage with the caption: “A poll worker in Minnesota. They just want free healthcare, guys.”
By Tuesday evening, Mediaite reports the post had more than 4.5 million views, and was picked up by countless other MAGA and right-leaning accounts, including James O’Keefe, who complained that, “It’s illegal for me to ask questions in polling locations about Minnesota’s election laws, but THIS is allowed…?”
O’Keefe also asked social media users to “DM us if you’re an election judge or poll worker in Minnesota with anything to report.”
Other MAGA talking heads, like anti-democracy authoritarian Matt Walsh complained on X that “This person should be in handcuffs on federal charges. This should be the kind of decision that ruins her life. DOJ needs to be on it immediately.
However, it turned out the woman in the photo, who has not been identified, was wearing a Halloween costume that’s been on sale for years, reports Mediaite. The City of Rogers, Minnesota, even released a statement via Facebook that stated the woman in question was not trying to send a political message, and she’s actually a Republican:
“The City has been made aware of attire worn by an election judge/volunteer on Halloween that some have taken as a political statement. We have spoken with the judge/volunteer in question who has assured us that there was absolutely no political message or intent behind the shirt, that it was worn as Halloween attire, and that they would never be supportive of the apparent message that others have tied to it,” the city reported. “The election judge in question has given the City permission to note that they are a Republican judge pursuant to the requirement to maintain party balance per Minnesota Statute.”
Furthermore, the city stated that while the shirt in question “did not meet the statutory definition regarding prohibitions against political party or campaign messaging at polling places per Minnesota Statute,” the city took the responsibility of maintaining a safe and inviting polling location “very seriously,” and would have asked the person to remove or cover up the costume if it was causing confusion.
And confuse it did -- with still more MAGA voices sounding off across social media.
“NOW: Poll worker in MINNESOTA is mocking the assassination of Charlie Kirk with an absolutely demonic shirt,” complained Eric Daugherty on X. “THESE PEOPLE WANT TO CONTROL AMERICA. She needs to be IMMEDIATELY carried out of the polls, and Republicans need to keep voting or these people will take control!”