Pa.’s first trans mayor denies inciting violence after ICE tweet

The first transgender-identifying mayor elected in Pennsylvania told The Christian Post on Thursday that he was not calling for violence in a recent X post that warned deportations by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) could lead to “violent pushback” against the federal government.

Erica Deuso, who was elected Tuesday to serve as mayor of Downingtown, a borough of approximately 8,000 people west of Philadelphia, nevertheless maintained that violence from citizens is to be expected when their government “goes too far.”

“I forsee [sic] violent pushback from an armed citizenry in the future,” Deuso tweeted Sept. 23 in response to an X post by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that featured a video of ICE raids cut with the Pokémon theme song, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!”

I forsee violent pushback from an armed citizenry in the future. The 2nd Amendment folx were very clear that weapons are meant to oppose a tyrannical government… https://t.co/d3900fcdui

— Erica Deuso for Downingtown Mayor (@EricaDeuso) September 23, 2025

“The 2nd Amendment folx [sic] were very clear that weapons are meant to oppose a tyrannical government…” added Deuso, a 45-year-old from Vermont who works as a personnel and process quality manager at Johnson & Johnson.

Deuso’s tweet came a day before 29-year-old Joshua Jahn opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 24, killing two detainees and wounding another before taking his own life.

On Oct. 30, DHS released new statistics on violent threats against ICE law enforcement officers, who now reportedly face an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and their families.

Deuso told CP in a statement that his post was not a call for violence, but rather likened the actions of the federal government under the Trump administration to those of the British government under King George III, which prompted the American Revolution.

“That post wasn’t a call for violence. I don’t support violence in any form,” Deuso told CP. “Our government has too often ignored the rights of its own people, and history shows what happens when that disrespect goes too far; Boston Harbor once had tea floating in it for a reason. The point I was making is that trust and accountability matter.”

“When leaders listen and take responsibility, tensions go down instead of up. My message was about preventing conflict, not causing it,” Deuso added.

For weeks, Deuso engaged with X users who replied to his initial post, with some questioning whether he was trying to provoke attacks against federal agents.

“Downingtown deserves leaders who can tell the difference between criticism of government overreach and a concern for lives on both sides, and a call for violence,” Deuso replied to an X user named Bruce with one follower. “Accountability isn’t anti-police, it’s pro-democracy. At least one of us understands that, Bruce.”

In response to an X user with 22 followers who accused him of “cosplaying as a woman” and not turning down the political temperature, Deuso wrote: “Spare me the lectures on tone from the party cheering Trump’s every tantrum. You don’t get to torch the house and then scold people for shouting fire.”

“And anyone who passed 9th-grade biology knows sex isn’t binary — XXY, XO, XYY, AIS, Turner. Science isn’t on your side,” Deuso added.

When another user with 82 followers told him he “can’t instigate violence without repercussions,” Deuso said, “That was my point about ICE. People are going to start fighting back if they don’t bring down the temperature.”

Deuso, a Democrat, defeated Republican Rich Bryant with 64% of the vote Tuesday in the mayoral election in Downingtown, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Deuso joins 52 other elected officials in the U.S. who identify as transgender, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute.

“Voters chose hope, decency, and a community where every neighbor matters,” Deuso said early Wednesday morning after being called the winner. “I am honored to be elected as Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor. I carry that responsibility with care and with purpose.”