The Trump campaign acknowledged the former Mar-a-Lago employee's comments, saying they were "horrible." | Getty Trump disavows ex-butler's Facebook posts about Obama

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article includes language that some may find offensive.

Donald Trump's campaign is distancing itself from the real estate mogul's former butler, whose inflammatory statements — including talk about his desire for President Barack Obama to be killed — have caught the attention of the Secret Service.


The latest controversy to touch Trump's campaign kicked up on Thursday when Mother Jones reported that Anthony Senecal, who also worked at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, has posted several times on Facebook about his wish for Obama to die.

After the comments came to light, Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement, "Tony Senecal has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for years, but nevertheless we totally and completely disavow the horrible statements made by him regarding the President."

When asked about the comments, Secret Service spokesman Robert Hoback said, "The U.S. Secret Service is aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation."

Senecal, who worked at Mar-a-Lago for almost 60 years, gained national attention in March after being featured in a lengthy and generally flattering profile in The New York Times. But he now finds himself under harsh scrutiny for his incendiary posts.

Referring to Obama, Senecal wrote on Wednesday: "This character who I refer to as zero (0) should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term !!!!!" Only Senecal's Facebook friends can view the post, but Mother Jones confirmed with Senecal that he had written it.

Last year, Senecal wrote: "Looks like that sleezey bastard zero (O) is trying to out maneuver Congress again, if the truth be known this prick needs to be hung for treason!!!" He also posted: "[W]ith the last breath I draw I will help rid this America of the scum infested in its government--and if that means dragging that ball less dick head from the white mosque and hanging his scrawny ass from the portico--count me in !!!!!"

He told Mother Jones that he doesn't think Obama is a U.S. citizen. He also said that Facebook has previously suspended his account.