White House promotes official critical of police and ICE
Former Interior Department communications director Tyler Cherry is making a significant transition to the White House, where he will be taking on a new role focusing on communications within the Biden administration.
Despite facing controversy last year due to past social media posts that targeted law enforcement, criticized Republicans, and supported the anti-Israel movement, Cherry has now been hired as an associate communications director in the White House.
The news of Cherry’s new role was reported by Politico, highlighting his previous experience of over three years working for Secretary Deb Haaland at the Interior Department before starting his new position last week at the White House.
Last year, Cherry came under fire for various social media posts that resurfaced, in which he made critical remarks about law enforcement and expressed support for causes like “Russiagate” and the anti-Israel movement.
One such post from Cherry in 2015 during the riots in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray read: “Praying for #Baltimore, but praying even harder for an end to a capitalistic police state motivated by explicit and implicit racial biases.”
Another controversial post from Cherry highlighted the historical context of modern policing, stating, “Apt (sic.) time to recall that the modern day police system is a direct evolution of slave patrols and lynch mobs.”
In addition to his criticisms of law enforcement, Cherry also advocated for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2018, sparking further debate and scrutiny.
During the Gaza War in 2014, Cherry expressed support for “Palestine” on social media while tensions escalated between Palestinian forces, led by Hamas, and Israel, resulting in a significant conflict.
Cherry’s social media activity also included posts criticizing Republicans, with one post from 2017 claiming that conservatives in the Republican Party were focused on “white grievance politics” rather than addressing issues like debt and deficit.
Despite the controversies surrounding Cherry’s past social media posts, his experience and skills in communications have led to his new role within the Biden White House, where he will now work on shaping and delivering key messages for the administration.
President Biden’s administration continues to bring in diverse voices and perspectives to drive their communications strategy, and Cherry’s appointment reflects a commitment to engaging with a range of viewpoints within the administration.
As Cherry takes on his new position in the White House, it remains to be seen how his past controversies will impact his work and interactions within the administration, but his appointment signals a willingness to embrace individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences to achieve the administration’s communication goals.
