Trump blames Democrats’ rhetoric for latest apparent assassination attempt

Former President Trump directly blamed President Biden and Vice President Harris for the latest potential assassination attempt against him, arguing Monday that their rhetoric was inspiring violence against him even as he described his opponents as “the real threat.”

Trump spoke to Fox News Digital one day after law enforcement arrested Ryan Wesley Routh, who authorities said pointed a gun through a fence near the Florida golf course where Trump was playing Sunday.

“He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump told 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.” 

“They do it with a combination of rhetoric and lawsuits they wrap me up in,” Trump added. “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 one.” 

Sunday’s incident took place about two months after a gunman opened fire on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania, striking the ex-president in the ear and killing one man in the audience.

The former president sought to turn the criticism around on Biden and Harris on Monday, claiming they “want to destroy our country.” 

“It is called the enemy from within. They are the real threat,” Trump said.

In a subsequent post on Truth Social, the former president claimed Biden and Harris have “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!” Trump added, before calling his opponents’ border policy “an unpardonable sin.”

The Secret Service spotted a gun poking through the fence along the golf property about 500 yards away from where the former president was playing. An agent opened fire, causing Routh to flee. He was later apprehended, police said, and was charged Monday with federal gun crimes, The Associated Press reported.

Both Biden and Harris have expressed their gratitude that Trump was unharmed and have condemned political violence in the wake of the incident.

“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today,” Harris, the Democratic nominee, said in a statement Sunday. “As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”

Biden similarly condemned political violence Sunday. He previously delivered a prime-time address calling for cooler heads to prevail after the July shooting.

Democrats have repeatedly described Trump as a threat to democracy who must be defeated in November. Trump for his part has repeatedly called his opponents a threat to the country and likened them to “vermin,” remarks that drew comparisons to authoritarian regimes during World War II.

Updated at 12:24 p.m.