REALLY? Why Did MI SOS Jocelyn Benson’s Office Approve An “86 TRMP” Personalized License Plate?
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — During President Trump’s first rally since surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, controversy erupted over what some are calling a coded call for violence displayed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
While appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press on the morning of Trump’s rally with JD Vance in Grand Rapids, a placard reading “8645” was clearly visible behind Whitmer’s desk. The phrase has long been interpreted by some critics as a veiled threat — with “86” understood as slang for “kill” and “45” referencing President Trump, the 45th President of the United States and currently serving again as Commander-in-Chief.
Critics argue that the timing and visibility of the placard during a nationally televised interview — while Trump was addressing supporters nearby — was more than coincidental. Meanwhile, the U.S. Secret Service heightened security at Van Andel Arena, where the President and JD Vance were set to make their joint appearance.
This isn’t the first time Whitmer has faced criticism over her rhetoric. In a 2020 press release, she accused then-President Trump of “sowing the seeds of hatred and division” during the Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots. She called for “empathy, humanity, and unity,” while praising Barack Obama’s call to channel anger into “peaceful, sustained, and effective action.”
At the time, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon responded to the “8645” placard controversy, saying, “Perhaps she should sit this one out since she very clearly called for it to happen.”
Now, Whitmer’s likely successor and current Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is under scrutiny for authorizing a personalized license plate reading “86 TRMP.” Critics say this message echoes the same coded language previously seen in Whitmer’s interview and may be interpreted as advocating harm against the President.
Saw this in the wild. What the Hell! pic.twitter.com/k0Syh1vtmT
— Paul Mahn (@PaulMahn2) September 19, 2025
Under Michigan law, the Secretary of State is prohibited from issuing license plates containing profane, obscene, or violent messaging. The Michigan Vehicle Code also explicitly forbids personalized plates that “promote or condone hate or violence directed at any person.”
Despite these rules, the license plate was approved, manufactured, and sent to a Michigan driver — prompting outrage and raising legal questions. Could the Secretary of State’s office be held liable for enabling a potential call to violence?
The controversy is further amplified by Secretary Benson’s history of decrying threats made against her. After the 2020 election, she claimed “armed protesters” had gathered outside her home in an attempt to intimidate her. However, the Detroit Police Department found no evidence that any weapons were present and described the protest as peaceful — even including Christmas carolers.
Despite publicly condemning threats and intimidation, Benson’s office approved a plate that many interpret as hostile and dangerous toward President Trump. This contradiction is now fueling accusations of double standards and politically motivated misuse of authority.
The question remains: How can Michigan’s top election official decry threats against herself while simultaneously allowing what appears to be a targeted threat against the sitting President to be promoted on state-issued property?
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