Minnesota Trump supporter pleads guilty in attack over sign

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A suburban Minneapolis man accused of attacking an elderly couple after spotting them holding an anti-Donald Trump sign after the election has pleaded guilty.

Mark Anthony Ulsaker, 50, of Lino Lakes, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court Tuesday to two counts of threats of violence. Authorities say Ulsaker, angry over a couple’s anti-Trump sign, swung a golf club at them and punched the man in the head.

The husband and wife, ages 80 and 78, were among a group standing on a street corner in White Bear Lake five days after voters chose Democrat Joe Biden over Trump.

According to the Nov. 8, 2020 complaint, witnesses saw Ulsaker stop his truck where the elderly couple stood with a homemade Biden sign. Ulsaker, who told investigators he was a supporter of now-former President Donald Trump, swore at the couple.

He then parked his truck at Walgreens nearby, then charged at the couple with a club. After kicking over the sign, he began swinging the club, breaking it over the woman’s chair.

Ulsaker then pushed her over and punched the man in the head as he tried to defend her. Ulsaker ran back to his truck but was followed by the woman. Ulsaker got in and drove his truck up the curb “to scare her” before driving off.

Police went to Ulsaker’s home after witnesses provided them with his license plate number.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop two felony assault charges. The two sides have not agreed on a sentencing recommendation.

Someone in the neighborhood described the sign as a large piece of plywood with the hand-painted message: “Trumpers — thank God in greyhound he is gone.”

The message roughly echoes the lyrics of a Roy Clark country song, “Thank God and Greyhound You’re Gone,” from the viewpoint of a man saying good riddance to his girlfriend.