Trump Says Lindsay Clancy ‘Did a Horrible Thing’ After Judge Declares Mistrial in Triple-Murder Case

WASHINGTON / PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts — September 5, 2026 — President Donald Trump weighed in on the closely watched Lindsay Clancy murder trial shortly after a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial, saying the mother had committed a “horrible” act and predicting that the case could return to court.

Clancy's six-week trial ended on September 4 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict following seven days of deliberations. She remains charged in the deaths of her three children, and prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek a new trial.

 

 

Trump Reacts Minutes After Mistrial

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he had followed the case because of its extensive television coverage.

Calling the case a “terrible situation,” Trump said Clancy had done something horrific and suggested that she could ultimately face either further criminal proceedings or continued psychiatric confinement. He also said he assumed there could be another trial.

Trump's comments came shortly after Judge William Sullivan formally declared a mistrial in Plymouth Superior Court.

The president's remarks were his first major public comments on a case that has drawn nationwide attention and reignited debate over postpartum mental illness, criminal responsibility and the insanity defense.

Why the Lindsay Clancy Trial Ended Without a Verdict

Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, never disputed that she killed her three children — Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months — at the family's home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.

The central question before the jury was whether Clancy was legally criminally responsible for the killings.

Her defense argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and lacked criminal responsibility at the time. Prosecutors, however, argued that Clancy acted deliberately and understood the nature and consequences of what she was doing.

After repeated reports that the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, the judge ultimately declared a mistrial.

A mistrial is not an acquittal. The criminal charges against Clancy remain in place unless prosecutors decide otherwise.

Defense Blamed a Single Juror for the Deadlock

During the final days of deliberations, Clancy's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued that one juror was preventing the panel from reaching a verdict because that juror was allegedly failing to follow the court's instructions on reasonable doubt.

Reddington sought emergency intervention as the deadlock continued, but the effort to prevent the mistrial was unsuccessful.

The defense has publicly claimed that the jury was divided 11-1 in favor of acquittal. However, other reporting, including the Associated Press account of the proceedings, said the precise division of the jury was not independently established publicly. That distinction is important when describing the outcome.

What Happens Next?

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has not announced whether prosecutors will retry Clancy.

Following the mistrial, prosecutors could pursue another trial, explore another legal resolution or ultimately decide not to proceed further. No immediate decision was announced after the jury was dismissed.

Clancy remains in custody at a state psychiatric facility, according to reports on the case. The court has scheduled a further hearing for September 29, when the next steps are expected to be discussed.

A Case That Has Divided Public Opinion

The trial has generated unusually intense public interest because there is no dispute over the underlying deaths. Instead, the legal battle centered on Clancy's mental state.

Her attorneys argued that severe postpartum psychiatric illness played a decisive role in the tragedy. Prosecutors argued that mental illness did not eliminate her criminal responsibility.

The mistrial leaves those competing interpretations unresolved.

If prosecutors pursue a new trial, a new jury could again be asked to decide whether Clancy should be found criminally responsible or whether her mental condition meets Massachusetts' legal standard for lack of criminal responsibility.

What the New York Post Graphic Gets Right — and What Needs Context

The graphic's central claim — that Trump delivered his own verdict on the case after the mistrial — is broadly accurate.

Trump did publicly condemn what Clancy did and indicated that he expected further legal proceedings could follow.

However, his comments were his personal assessment, not a legal verdict.

The court did not find Clancy guilty or not guilty. The jury failed to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a mistrial.

The case therefore remains unresolved, and any decision about whether Clancy will face another trial rests with Massachusetts prosecutors and the court system — not with the president's comments.

Bottom Line

President Trump reacted strongly to the Lindsay Clancy case after a Massachusetts jury failed to reach a verdict, describing the killings as horrific and predicting that the legal process could continue.

But the mistrial does not end the case.

Lindsay Clancy remains charged, prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will retry her, and the court is scheduled to revisit the case on September 29.