Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider denied making a death threat against President Joe Biden after calling for the president to be “publicly hanged.”
Schneider, 63, attempted to walk back his controversial post on Thursday, saying he never implied threats or violence and suggesting the public should reread his post, which has been deleted as of Thursday.
“Seriously, people? This is my final comment on this. I did not say or imply anything like that,” Schneider said: according to TMZ.
“Despite headlines to the contrary, my post absolutely did not call for an act of violence or threaten an American president, as many other celebrities have done in the past,” he added.
The statement came a day after he posted a concerning message targeting Biden and his son Hunter on X, formerly Twitter.
'Mr. President, I believe you are guilty of treason and should be publicly hanged,” the actor wrote. 'Your son too. Your reaction is..? Kind regards, John Schneider.'
Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider, 63, denied making a death threat against President Joe Biden after calling for the president to be “publicly hanged” in a controversial social media post
“Despite headlines to the contrary, my post absolutely did not call for an act of violence or threaten an American president, as many other celebrities have done in the past,” Schneider said.
The 63-year-old actor made the apparent death threat in a response to a post by Biden about former President Donald Trump.
Biden's post reads: “Trump poses many threats to our country: the right to choose, civil voting rights, and America's standing in the world. But the greatest threat he poses is to our democracy. If we lose that, we lose everything.”
After deleting the message, Schneider said Thursday, “I suggest you re-read my actual message and pay attention to the words before you believe this nonsense.
“It is my position, as I am entitled to, that some of our country's leaders have lost their way in Washington and that corruption is rampant, both at our country's borders and abroad,” the statement continued.
“Transparency and accountability must occur if our constitutional republic is to survive. There is no threat, implied or otherwise, in that statement.”
Schneider played Bo Duke in the iconic TV series Dukes of Hazzard
Schneider was exposed as the celebrity behind the donut costume on The Masked Singer on the same day he wrote the threatening post
Schneider, who played Bo Duke on Dukes of Hazzard, was exposed as the celebrity behind the donut costume on The Masked Singer on the same day he wrote the threatening post.
He often supports Trump on Twitter and has previously claimed the 2020 was rigged and called Anthony Fauci “Treacherous.”
Many on X took note of Schneider's comment to Biden, with some demanding that the Secret Service look into it.
The Secret Service responded: “The Secret Service is aware of Mr. Schneider's comments, and as a matter of practice we do not comment on protective intelligence matters.
“We can say, however, that the Secret Service is investigating all threats related to our protected individuals,” the statement read.
Former NBCUniversal executive Mike Sington wrote: “Has-been, D-list TV 'star' (Dukes of Hazzard), and right-wing MAGA nut John Schneider, publicly reports that President Biden and Hunter Biden should be executed.”
Attorney Don Lewis said, “John Schneider deleted his tweet saying President Biden should be hanged. But the internet is forever and wouldn't it be a shame if 'Bo Duke' gets a visit from some federal agents?'
Comedian Kathy Griffin has claimed she was investigated by the Secret Service after posing with a fake version of Trump's severed head in 2017.
She said she was placed under federal investigation and even placed on the no-fly list, while also being “interrogated under oath.”
He often supports Trump on Twitter and has previously claimed the 2020 was rigged and called Anthony Fauci “Treacherous.”
In 2018, Schneider said it was time “for Hollywood stars to come out of the Republican closet” after he was released from prison for failing to pay spousal support.
The actor claimed at the time that Republican stars are subject to political bias and stricter scrutiny — and that's what he fell victim to during a messy alimony battle in court.
“I think there's a bias in Hollywood against conservatives, Republicans, but I think if you let that change who you are, I wonder how you're going to do,” Schneider said in an interview with Fox News after his release.
'[Within the] in the justice system I was treated as if I was guilty until proven innocent, as a second-class citizen,” he said, adding that it is time for Hollywood stars to “come out of the Republican closet.”
Schneider won the role of Bo Duke in The Dukes Of Hazzard at the age of 17 and starred on the CBS show opposite Tom Wopat as his older cousin Luke Duke from 1979 to 1985.
Since then he has worked regularly in TV and film, making regular appearances in Smallville and The Mummy before landing a starring role in The Haves And The Have Nots on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2013.
Schneider also had recurring roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman and the 90210 reboot.