Trost defends tweets suggesting he would've joined 'lock her up' chants

Saskatoon-University MP Brad Trost is defending tweets in support of “lock her up” chants against Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

The Conservative leadership candidate joined Gormley Wednesday morning to after he tweeted Tuesday he would have “joined in” on the chants.

Wanted to be there w my friend @calxandr supporting Albertans would’ve chanted w them #cpcldr #LockHerUp

— Brad Trost (@BradTrostCPC) December 6, 2016

He said the angry Albertans who struck up the “lock her up” chorus at an anti-carbon tax rally on the weekend were speaking “symbolically.”

“They had very serious issues, they were angry about what the premier is doing,” Trost said. “But they were not to be taken literally.”

He added “no one in their right minds” would suggest Notley should actually be thrown in jail for not having done anything illegal.

Trost also suggested, despite his tweets, he wouldn’t have outright said “lock her up.”

“I wouldn’t have said that, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to make a speech like that,” he said. “But the fact is (the protesters) were saying that and they need to be understood for what they meant.”

“They’re losing their jobs, they’re frustrated because taxes are going up.”

Leaders backing away

While Trost has thrown his support behind the chant, others have distanced themselves.

Alberta’s opposition leader and head of the Wildrose Party Brian Jean denounced the chants, saying he wished the people who had those desires would “stay home.”

CPC leadership candidate Chris Alexander said he “disapproved.”

Interim CPC Leader Rona Ambrose went further, saying the chant was “unoriginal” given its roots in the American election. She added the chanters “acted like idiots.”

@RonaAmbrose should apologize for being out o touch & calling those grass roots Albertans “idiots” #cpcldr #LockHerUp

— Brad Trost (@BradTrostCPC) December 6, 2016