Former President Donald Trump responded to a second apparent assassination attempt—an incident he blames on divisive political rhetoric—by escalating tensions further.
In July, after a bullet grazed his ear in a shooting that tragically claimed the life of a rally attendee, Trump initially seemed poised for reconciliation. Speaking with The Washington Examiner’s Salena Zito, he expressed a desire to unite the country and the world. However, that sentiment quickly faded, lasting only as long as the early parts of his convention speech.
Following a second incident on Sunday, when the Secret Service reportedly stopped a gunman waiting for him at one of his Florida golf courses, Trump reacted differently. He accused President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of encouraging political violence by labeling him a threat to democracy.
Speaking to Fox News Digital on Monday without providing evidence, Trump claimed the would-be shooter “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and acted on it.” He added, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, while I am the one who will save the country. They are the ones destroying it—both from within and outside.”
Invoking a common totalitarian theme, Trump called it “the enemy from within,” warning that “dangerous fools,” like Sunday’s alleged gunman, are influenced by Democratic leaders. He reiterated his unsubstantiated claim that the White House is orchestrating a campaign to persecute him through the justice system.
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Vance Claims No Assassination Attempts on Harris
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, took a more blunt approach to the issue.
“The big difference between conservatives and liberals is that no one has tried to kill Kamala Harris in the last couple of months, while two people have tried to kill Donald Trump in that same time,” Vance said. “I’d say that’s pretty strong evidence that the left needs to tone down the rhetoric and stop this nonsense.”
Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, recently faced criticism for incitement after spreading unfounded claims that Haitian refugees were eating pet dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, which was followed by bomb threats targeting local hospitals and schools.
Democratic Rep. Nikema Williams condemned Vance’s comments about assassination attempts and the divide between liberals and conservatives.
“Why would he say something like that when we’re trying to lower the temperature, change the rhetoric, and promote unity?” the Georgia Democrat asked during a “TN This Morning” appearance with Kasie Hunt. “We can disagree on policies, but no one should be subject to an assassination attempt.”
While Williams made it clear she is no supporter of Trump, she emphasized that no one should face threats to their life. She also noted that since becoming a member of Congress, she has had to arrange personal security measures to protect herself and her family due to similar threats.
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Fierce Political Fallout After Sunday’s Incident
Being the target of two apparent assassination attempts within two months would weigh heavily on anyone, and Trump is also facing an election less than 50 days away, with polls showing a tight race between him and the vice president.
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, told TN’s Erin Burnett on Monday, “Anyone targeted for assassination might be pretty sensitive, agitated, and worried, so I think that’s understandable.”
The idea of influencing an election by assassinating a presidential candidate should be repugnant to anyone who believes in democracy and the right of voters to choose their leaders. The exact motives of the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, remain unclear, though his advocacy for stronger U.S. support for Ukraine contrasts sharply with Trump’s vow to end the war with Russia.
Establishing a direct link between political rhetoric and actions by isolated individuals is often difficult, though there’s always a concern that a small minority may be inspired by a leader’s words to commit violence.
However, Trump’s accusations that Biden and Harris are directly responsible reflect his extreme political instincts. His assertion that their warnings about his threat to democracy could get him killed is particularly striking. By making this claim, Trump is implying that it’s illegitimate for his opponents to acknowledge the truth — that his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his baseless allegations of a rigged 2024 vote demonstrate a threat to America’s democratic system. This stance, which seems designed to suppress criticism, could be a troubling preview of how he might govern if reelected.
At last week’s debate, Trump played a similar card when Harris raised concerns about his threats to terminate the Constitution and weaponize the Justice Department against political enemies. She said, “It’s up to the American people to stop him,” given that the Supreme Court and figures like Vance wouldn’t stand in his way. Trump responded, “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they say about me.”
Amid the heated political exchanges, there was one rare moment of normalcy on Monday: Biden and Trump had a phone call in which the president expressed relief that his rival was safe. Trump described the call to TN as “a very nice conversation.”
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Republicans Accuse Democrats of Incitement
Claims of incitement and inflammatory rhetoric are often subjective. For example, Republicans were outraged when President Biden described the MAGA movement as akin to “semi-fascism” in August 2022, though this phrase did not become a regular part of his speeches. Similarly, New York Rep. Daniel Goldman, a Democrat, made headlines last year when he said Trump needed to be “eliminated,” a remark that Ohio Sen. JD Vance referenced on Monday. Goldman quickly apologized, calling it a “poor choice of words,” and clarified that he wished no harm to Trump.
While Democrats have occasionally been criticized for over-the-top remarks, Trump has built his political brand on rhetoric that far surpasses anything from his opponents. He regularly refers to Vice President Harris as a “fascist.” For instance, at a Virginia rally on August 26, he said, “We have a fascist person running who’s incompetent,” repeating similar statements at other campaign events in August. He has also referred to the Biden administration as a “Gestapo administration,” invoking the infamous Nazi secret police, and has described his political opponents as “vermin,” a term used by some of history’s worst dictators. Additionally, Trump warned that immigrants were “poisoning the blood” of the U.S.
Trump’s rhetoric escalated when he refused to concede the 2020 election, calling on his supporters to “fight like hell” or risk losing the country. This culminated in the violent January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as his supporters sought to prevent the certification of Biden’s victory. Trump has since referred to those arrested for their role in the insurrection as “political prisoners” and has promised to consider pardoning them if he returns to the White House. Even now, Trump warns he will only accept the results of the upcoming election if he believes it to be fair, and he has vowed to prosecute political opponents if he wins.
Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, speaking at a Harris campaign event, criticized Trump’s rhetoric. “He plays to people’s fear and anxiety. He defines us with hate and fear,” she said. Dingell urged for a reduction in political violence, but also warned of Trump’s significant role in stoking it, highlighting that he has not committed to accepting election results.
Social media platforms have also amplified Trump’s inflammatory remarks. After the latest apparent assassination attempt on Trump, Elon Musk, a key supporter and owner of X, posted a now-deleted message questioning why Trump had been targeted twice, while his rivals had not faced similar threats. Musk later claimed it was a joke, though, given the history of political violence in the U.S., the comment was met with concern.
Trump’s rhetoric has made life dangerous for others as well. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former head of the U.S. infectious disease response, has noted an increase in death threats against him whenever Trump allies, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, attack him publicly. Media outlets, election workers, and even legal officials involved in Trump’s cases have faced threats as a result of his inflammatory comments.
In Springfield, Ohio, the impact of Trump’s rhetoric has become clear. After Trump spread false claims during a debate, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine deployed state highway patrol officers to monitor local schools facing bomb threats. Additionally, Wittenberg University shifted classes online after threats of bombings and shootings targeted “members of the Haitian community.”
Despite this, Vance denied any connection between Trump or himself and the threats, calling such accusations “disgusting.” He also condemned the idea of assassinating a former president, yet history shows that while Trump may be a victim of the nation’s toxic political environment, he has also played a significant role in creating it.
