Former President Donald Trump spoke out on Monday about the second attempt on his life, and he did not mince words. In a Fox News Digital exclusive, he blamed rhetoric coming from Democrats for inspiring the would-be assassin to try to kill him.
The former president spoke with Fox News Digital the morning after law enforcement apprehended the suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh.
“He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump said of the gunman in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out.”
Trump pointed to Biden and Harris’ past comments casting Trump as a “threat to democracy,” while telling Americans they are “unity” leaders.
“They are the opposite,” Trump said. “These are people that want to destroy our country.”
He added: “It is called the enemy from within. They are the real threat.”
The former president went on to say that Democrats incite violence “with a combination of rhetoric and lawsuits” and that “These are the things that dangerous fools, like the shooter, listen to – that is the rhetoric they listen to, and the same with the first [assassination attempt].”
Trump didn’t stop there. He took to X on Monday and savaged folks on the left for attempts on his life and indicated that they will incite even more violence.
The Rhetoric, Lies, as exemplified by the false statements made by Comrade Kamala Harris during the rigged and highly partisan ABC Debate, and all of the ridiculous lawsuits specifically designed to inflict damage on Joe’s, then Kamala’s, Political Opponent, ME, has taken…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2024
The Rhetoric, Lies, as exemplified by the false statements made by Comrade Kamala Harris during the rigged and highly partisan ABC Debate, and all of the ridiculous lawsuits specifically designed to inflict damage on Joe’s, then Kamala’s, Political Opponent, ME, has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust. Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse!
Yet, Democrats have responded to the latest attempt on Trump’s life by trying to blame him for the shooter’s actions.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) in a post on X blamed MAGA for inflaming America’s political environment and brought up allegations that Haitian illegal immigrants are eating people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Look violent rhetoric is wrong, and has no place.
But MAGA pretending they didn’t light this fire is gaslighting to the 100th power. Since Trump showed up our politics has gone to crap.
Literally just accused a group of people of eating our pets.
So stop
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) September 16, 2024
The second assassination attempt has rekindled debates about divisive and incendiary rhetoric and how it can motivate bad actors to carry out violent attacks. While many Democrats, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, have condemned the would-be shooter’s actions, left-wing media figures have adopted the “Let’s Blame Trump” strategy.
Related: WATCH: 2 1/2 Minutes Straight of Leftist Politicians and Media Calling for Violence and Unrest
Adam Kinzinger, Vindmans, MSNBC Deliver Insane Responses to Second Trump Assassination Attempt
Yet, we know how these people would react if someone tried to carry out a violent attack on a Democratic politician. They would never dream of engaging in this type of victim blaming in that scenario. Instead, they would pretend that the incident was motivated by Republicans and the Orange Man What Is Bad™.
In essence, members of the left-wing chattering class want to have it both ways. When there is violence against Democrats, it’s the Republicans’ fault. If there is violence against Republicans, it’s the Republicans’ fault. Hopefully, the voting public isn’t falling for that particular tactic.
