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Kaukauna High School social studies teacher Patrick Meyer has been placed on administrative leave following a now-deleted X post criticising recent presidential assassins in response to the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on 25 April 2026, where President Donald Trump and others were evacuated. U.S. Rep. Tony Wied shared the post, sparking public debate at a school board meeting where parents demanded action while students defended Meyer’s character. The Kaukauna Area School District condemned any promotion of violence and is reviewing the matter.
What Did Patrick Meyer Post on Social Media?
Patrick Meyer, a social studies teacher at Kaukauna High School, made a now-deleted X post that read: “I am not impressed with recent presidential assassins. It’s [expletive] embarrassing! Booth, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Oswald must all be spinning in their graves! MAGAA (make Americans great assassins again)! Sad!”
As reported by WLUK reporters from FOX 11, the post was in response to the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend of 25 April 2026. U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-8th District, posted a screenshot of Meyer’s X post on his Facebook page, stating: “This type of disgusting rhetoric has no place in our society and does not represent the values of northeast Wisconsin.”
NBC 26 coverage by their Fox Cities neighbourhood reporter noted that Meyer referenced historical assassins John Wilkes Booth, Charles Guiteau, Leon Czolgosz, and Lee Harvey Oswald, twisting the MAGA slogan into “make Americans great assassins again.” The post quickly drew condemnation, leading to its deletion, but screenshots preserved it for public scrutiny.
Why Was the Teacher Placed on Administrative Leave?
The Kaukauna Area School District released a statement on Monday, 27 April 2026, confirming the action. As quoted in the district’s official statement reported by FOX 11 (WLUK): “The Kaukauna Area School District has been made aware of a situation involving an employee’s social media post. The District has placed the employee on administrative leave and is taking additional action to review the matter in accordance with its policies and procedures. The Kaukauna Area School District is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, families, and staff, and unequivocally rejects any conduct, expression, or behavior that may encourage, condone, or promote violence in any form.”
This statement was reiterated across multiple outlets, including NBC 26 and KOMU News, emphasising the district’s zero-tolerance stance on violence promotion. FOX 11 requested interviews with the district and school board members, but these were denied; Superintendent Mike Slowinski referred reporters to the original statement when approached before Monday’s meeting. The district has not disclosed further details on protocols for such posts or their potential impact.
What Sparked the Controversial Post?
Meyer’s post directly responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on 25 April 2026, held at the Washington Hilton. According to Wikipedia’s entry on the event, gunshots were fired near the main security screening area at approximately 8:36 p.m. EDT, leading to the evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Cabinet members by the Secret Service. The suspect, identified in related reports as a California man named Cole Tomas Allen, was apprehended after firing shots; a manifesto was under investigation.
FOX News and other national outlets described it as the first such dinner attended by President Trump as a sitting president since his reelection. Pool reports noted Secret Service agents yelling “shots fired” inside the venue, with at least six shots reported by The New York Times via Wikipedia. This high-profile event, attended by journalists and political leaders, heightened sensitivities around political violence, providing the context for Meyer’s remark.
Who Shared the Post and What Was Their Reaction?
U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, Republican representing Wisconsin’s 8th District, shared a screenshot of Meyer’s post on Facebook and X. As reported by FOX 11 (WLUK), Wied’s Facebook post linked to the screenshot, condemning it outright. On X, Rep. Tony Wied stated: “This type of disgusting rhetoric has no place in our society… This is apparently a teacher at Kaukauna High School in Wisconsin. It is not the example that our teachers should be setting for northeast Wisconsin students.”
NBC 26 reported Wied calling the rhetoric “disgusting,” aligning with his public stance against it. Wied’s action amplified the post nationally, drawing media attention from Fox News, which headlined it as advocating to “make Americans great assassins again.” No response from Meyer has been received despite FOX 11 emailing him questions about the post’s intent and message to students.
What Happened at the Kaukauna School Board Meeting?
Public comments dominated Monday night’s Kaukauna Area School Board meeting on 27 April 2026, relocated from the board room to the library for space. As covered by FOX 11 (WLUK), parents spoke against Meyer. Jennifer Schaefer said: “His comment was, ‘Make assassinations great again.’ What does this teach our kids? ‘If you disagree with someone, we should just kill them.’ Right?” Naomi Dvorachek added: “P. Meyer’s comment was totally unacceptable. As a parent of Kaukauna graduates, I don’t care how good of a teacher that he thought he was or anybody here thinks he is. It’s totally unacceptable to make that type of comment… If this school district or school board doesn’t do the right thing and fire him, there’s something very seriously wrong with all of you.”
Jacob Cash, class of 2014, defended Meyer: “I have a four-year-old who goes to the elementary school down the street, and removing teachers like this really, really hurts me, because I want my daughter and my son to learn critical thinking skills. And without teachers like Mr. Meyer, they’re just not going to.” Students echoed support, highlighting Meyer’s even-keeled approach.
What Do Students and Former Students Say About Meyer?
Current and former students vouched for Meyer’s character despite not condoning the post. Kaukauna High School senior Iris Bass stated: “I’m not condoning the post made on X, but simply vouching for Patrick Meyer’s character. Mr. Meyer is a kind and dutiful teacher who values his students and fellow staff.” Logan Lamers, class of 2014, said: “I really have a hard time remembering any instance of him doing something like that. He was always incredibly even keeled and very thoughtful.”
Connor Geenen, also class of 2014, praised: “I have nothing but good things to say about his teaching style. He taught us to do our own research, look at the facts.” These testimonials contrast parental fears of indoctrination, with students reporting no biased experiences in class. FOX 11 noted this divide, with critics like Dvorachek pushing for dismissal and supporters valuing his critical thinking lessons.
What Are Public Comments on the Post?
Social media comments reflected division. One Facebook commenter on Wied’s post said: “He said what most people were thinking and freedom of opinion and speech is still a thing.” Another countered: “Freedom of opinion is one thing. Wishing someone was successful assassinating the President is a different thing entirely.”
WBAY TV on Facebook highlighted the district’s confirmation without additional quotes. National coverage by Fox News framed it as advocacy for better assassins, intensifying online debate. These reactions underscore tensions between free speech and perceived incitement post the Washington incident.
Background of the Development
The incident stems from the 25 April 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, a rare security breach at a high-profile event honouring journalists. President Trump’s attendance marked his first as sitting president post-reelection, with the suspect’s apprehension preventing greater harm but leaving a manifesto and investigation ongoing. Meyer’s post, amid this charged atmosphere, invoked 19th- and 20th-century assassins who targeted presidents Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy, twisting political slogans in sarcasm that many interpreted as endorsing violence. This reflects broader U.S. debates on teacher social media conduct, free speech in education, and post-January 2025 political polarisation under President Trump’s administration. Prior similar cases, like teacher firings over partisan posts, set precedents, but Meyer’s long tenure and student praise complicate outcomes. The Kaukauna district’s measured response aligns with policies balancing employee rights and school safety.
Prediction: How Can This Affect Students and Parents in Kaukauna?
This development could erode trust between parents and the school if Meyer is not dismissed, prompting some like Naomi Dvorachek to question board integrity and potentially fuelling enrolment shifts or legal challenges over free speech. For students, Meyer’s potential removal might deprive them of a teacher praised for fostering critical thinking and research skills, as noted by alumni like Logan Lamers and Connor Geenen, impacting classroom dynamics and morale. Conversely, retaining him risks heightened scrutiny and division, with parents fearing normalised violent rhetoric amid national tensions post the 2026 shooting. Broader effects include policy reviews on social media, setting precedents for Wisconsin educators, and amplifying partisan divides in local education, where Rep. Wied’s involvement politicises the classroom further. Ultimately, it may lead to stricter guidelines, affecting teacher morale district-wide while testing community resilience.