The nation is in shock after another deadly mass shooting—this time inside a Mormon church in suburban Michigan—and yet Republican leaders have remained notably quiet following the revelation that the gunman was an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump who proudly embraced the “Ultra MAGA” label.
Authorities identified the attacker as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Marine veteran from Grand Blanc Township. On Sunday, Sanford drove his pickup truck into a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before opening fire on churchgoers. Ten people were shot, four were killed, and the church was later consumed by flames after Sanford allegedly used an accelerant to set it ablaze. Two victims died from gunshot wounds, and two more were found dead in the burned remains of the building.
Police say Sanford was killed in a shootout with officers roughly eight minutes after the first emergency calls were made. The FBI is investigating the tragedy as a “targeted act of violence,” though officials have not yet released a motive.
The Shooter’s Political Identity Raises Questions
In the hours after the attack, social media erupted with images of Sanford wearing Trump 2020 camouflage shirts emblazoned with slogans like “Make Liberals Cry Again.” Photos from earlier this year also show a Trump-Pence sign still standing in his front yard.
Despite the obvious political undertones, Republican officials have offered no comment.
Former President Donald Trump briefly addressed the tragedy, stating, “The epidemic of violence in our country must end, immediately.” However, he made no mention of the shooter’s political affiliation or the fact that the violence occurred within a conservative religious institution.
A Troubled Veteran with a Complex Past
Sanford, known locally as “Jake,” served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He left the Marine Corps in 2008 as a sergeant, earning multiple service medals. After his military career, Sanford worked a variety of blue-collar jobs, including snow removal, landscaping, and truck driving for Coca-Cola.
Friends recall a man who once spoke with compassion about his family, particularly his 10-year-old son, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder. In a 2019 interview with a local paper, Sanford said, “Don’t ever take having healthy kids for granted. I’ve seen combat, but nothing prepares you for watching your child struggle.”
That same man — once a devoted father appealing for help through a GoFundMe campaign — is now at the center of a national tragedy. Investigators are combing through his home and online activity, trying to uncover what triggered his violent rampage.
A former classmate, Ryan Lopez, told The New York Times, “He seemed happy and normal when I saw him two weeks ago. I never imagined this.”
Neighbors described Sanford as both friendly and distant. “He was polite but quiet,” said Randy Thronson, who lived nearby. “He seemed fine… something must have just snapped.”
Political Silence Amid Rising Violence
Law enforcement officials have not publicly tied Sanford’s political beliefs to his actions, but the silence from the GOP has drawn criticism from observers who note that the party is usually quick to
condemn violence—when the suspects are not linked to conservative movements.
This tragedy follows several other politically charged attacks in recent months. In Utah, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, and in Texas, a shooting at an immigration center left multiple people dead. Last month, a Minnesota gunman opened fire during Sunday Mass, killing two children inside a Catholic church.
Despite these events, national Republican leaders have issued few public statements, leading critics to accuse them of selective outrage.
A Church in Flames, a Community in Mourning
Founded in 1830, the Mormon Church now has more than 17 million members worldwide and remains deeply intertwined with American conservative culture. The fact that the attack occurred in a Mormon congregation has only deepened the shock and confusion surrounding the case.
Michigan State Police Lt. Kim Vetter told reporters, “We can’t draw conclusions about motive yet,” confirming that gasoline was used to ignite the fire and that suspected explosives were recovered at the scene.
Outside, emergency crews found Sanford’s charred pickup truck and a burned church van. Rescue teams worked through the night to search the wreckage and identify victims.
Today, four families grieve loved ones, eight others recover from gunshot wounds, and an entire community wonders how such horror unfolded within their sanctuary.
And still, from those who most often champion “law and order,” “family values,” and “religious freedom,” there has been silence — a silence that speaks volumes.