GRAYLING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s 1st Congressional District GOP candidate Justin Michal is directly addressing the wave of his old social-media screenshots circulating online – insisting the posts were taken out of context from longer posts and do not reflect the man he is today.
Michal, a U.S. Army veteran who deployed after 9/11, says the resurfaced comments have been weaponized and stripped of their original meaning. In an exclusive statement provided to Michigan News Source, he expressed regret for his past phrasing and said, “I own all of it.”
Controversial posts come back to haunt candidate.
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As previously reported by Michigan News Source, Michal’s campaign hit turbulence early after a political blog published screenshots of old social-media posts in which Michal allegedly praised a foreign invasion of the United States, waxed nostalgic about life in Saudi Arabia, appeared to make racist remarks, bragged about cheating, and gave unsolicited commentary about gay sexual activity.
The revelation prompted sharp criticism from opponent and incumbent GOP Representative Jack Bergman, who condemned the posts as evidence of poor character. Michal had not publicly addressed or apologized for the posts until now.
“They look worse than they were,” Michal says of old posts.
“Old screenshots of my social media have been pulled from longer posts and threads. Taken alone, they look much worse than they were, and I take responsibility for that,” Michal said. “If anyone felt disrespected by how something read, I am sorry. I should have communicated more clearly.”
He addressed each category of controversial remarks specifically:
- On the “foreign invasion” comment: Michal said the phrase stemmed from frustration with national leadership and the open border policy at the time, not hostility toward the United States. “It was never about harming America; it was about protecting America,” Michal said.
- On comments referencing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Africa: He said these were attempts to talk about global infrastructure and development but were “clumsy” and “insensitive.”
- On personal posts tied to cheating accusations or the Diddy controversy: Michal said these reflected personal immaturity, saying he regrettably handled personal failure publicly instead of privately.
Michal emphasized that he previously provided a full response to blogger Brandon Hall and authorized its publication, but Hall “chose not to.” Michigan News Source contacted Hall about Michal’s claim but he did not return our request for comment.
Veteran rejects claims of anti-American hostility.
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Michal, a veteran, pushed back hardest on claims that his language reflected hostility toward the United States. “I chose to serve this country the last time it was attacked, deployed overseas, and put my life on the line for the United States,” he said. “The idea that I would ever support harm against America is not grounded in reality.”
He framed the controversy as a test of integrity – and said integrity means acknowledging mistakes, not exploiting them for political gain.
“My willingness to own what I have said embraces my core principles of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Motivation,” Michal said, referring to his “T.E.A.M. Pledge” platform which can be found on the home page of his website.
Michal: Voters should judge what I’m doing now, not posts from years ago.
The candidate argued that he should be judged on present work and priorities – not “screenshots from long before I decided to run for public office.”
“I am defined by what I am doing for Michigan right now,” he said. That includes meeting with residents, focusing on prosperity in the 1st District, securing the border, supporting veterans, and “rebuilding our country.”
In the accountability section of his website, Michal says, “I will take responsibility for my actions, reflect your priorities, and work tirelessly to earn and maintain your trust.” By publicly confronting the resurfaced posts and acknowledging where he fell short, Michal appears to be carrying out that pledge – taking ownership of his past as he works to redefine his campaign moving forward.
