Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Matt Carriker, a well-known Texas-based YouTuber, addressed recent events involving President Trump’s would-be assassin wearing merchandise from his channel, DemolitionRanch.
Carriker, who also runs OffTheRanch, a vlog channel, and VetRanch, a veterinary-centered channel, made a public statement to his viewers.
“Before I go any further, to the family of the victim who died during the Trump shooting, I am so sorry for your loss. It’s terrible, and I hate that it happened to him and to you guys. Wishing you guys the best from here. It’s the worst,” said Carriker.
“For those who were injured in the shooting as well, wishing you guys a speedy recovery and praying for a pain-free recovery for you both physically and mentally. I can’t imagine,” he continued.
He expressed his shock and confusion upon learning that the shooter attempted to assassinate President Trump while wearing a Demolition Ranch t-shirt.
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“Across all my videos, we really don’t talk about politics at all. We keep politics out of it because, for one, it’s not my bread and butter, and also I don’t feel the need to impose my political views and beliefs on other people,” Carriker emphasized, clarifying that his channels avoid political discussions.
He stressed his commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for his audience.
Reflecting on the incident, Carriker said, “I think the difference between a gunman wearing a pair of Nike shoes and a gunman wearing my t-shirt is that this brand is much more personal to me than Nike is to its executives. So to see my name next to the shooter’s name—it sucks. I wish we could keep that from happening.”
He pointed out that, like major brands, they cannot vet every customer, and the shooter bought the shirt online.
“This channel is not about violence, and it never will be,” Carriker reassured his 11 million subscribers, emphasizing his desire for a safe environment for his family and viewers.
He addressed newcomers who might question his intentions.
“I have news articles calling me, asking for interviews, asking what I know about the shooter, asking if I’ve ever had any communication with the shooter, if I’ve ever met him. No, he bought a shirt online and unfortunately wore it that day,” he said.
He concluded by thanking his supporters, saying, “Let’s move forward. Thank you guys for listening, thanks for watching, and most of all, thanks for the support. I love you, and I’ll see you next time.”
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