WASHINGTON − A day after the second assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee turned back to politics after praising law enforcement and thanking Americans for their good wishes.
Trump urged donors to contribute to his campaign and, without proof, accused Democrats like President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of sparking the Sunday incident at his South Florida golf course.
The arrested suspect “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump said an interview with Fox News. “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.”
In the interview, Trump made dark reference to an “enemy within” that is working against him.
“They do it with a combination of rhetoric and lawsuits they wrap me up in,” Trump said. “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.”
Later on Monday, Trump on Truth Social resurfaced his complaints about last week’s debate with Harris: “Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse!”
While the suspect has previously supported Democrats, there is no evidence that Biden, Harris or any other prominent figures on the left actually inspired the assassination attempt.
On social media, Trump’s critics alleged the former president himself has expressed toxic views that have generated risks. Some cited the recent spate of bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, after Trump raised false rumors that Haitian migrants in the city were eating cats and dogs.
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh shared in a post on X: “Both of these statements are true: the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was utterly horrible and must be condemned by everyone. No one should face violence, no matter who they are. This is also true: no politician today incites more hate and violence with their words than Trump himself.”
Police on Sunday arrested Ryan Routh, 56, after Secret Service agents opened fire on a gunman pointing a rifle toward the green where Trump was golfing. Routh, a fervent supporter of Ukraine against the ongoing Russian invasion, voted in last March’s North Carolina Democratic primary, records show.
Trump’s comments are a stark departure from his reaction to the July attempt on his life, during which a gunman fired shots at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump’s ear was injured, and one attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed in the attack.
The gunman in that shooting, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, had registered to vote as a Republican. Crooks was killed by Secret Service snipers.
In the immediate aftermath of the July shooting, Trump called on Americans to stand united. He shared in a post on Truth Social that read: “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
To be sure, Trump soon returned to retail politics − including criticizing Biden and Harris − at the Republican convention in Milwaukee days later.
But in the wake of Sunday’s apparent attempt on his life, Trump put particular blame on Biden and Harris’ allegations that Trump’s reelection bid represents threat to democracy.
The former president’s comments surfaced shortly after he posted a fundraising solicitation that said, “there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us.” He also assured donors and supporters that “I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!”
Trump’s reelection campaign confirmed he met with acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, Jr. on Monday. Aides said Trump’s schedule would not change, and he’ll return to the campaign trail this week. That includes a town hall-type event Tuesday in Flint, Michigan, and a rally Wednesday in Uniondale, New York.
Trump aides started blaming Democrats for the latest shooting before Trump spoke out. Re-posting a statement from Harris that she had been briefed on the Trump incident and “I am glad he is safe,” Trump senior adviser Dan Scavino, Sr., had a bitter reply: “You’re not glad he is safe—It is your rhetoric that has caused this, AGAIN!!!!!”
In her statement, Harris also said: “Violence has no place in America.”
Harris and Biden have described Trump as a threat to democracy, citing his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his pledge to be a “dictator of day one” in a second term with regard to border security and energy production.
Still it took some hours for Trump to bring on the brimstone.
In a Truth Social post at 11:36 p.m. on Sunday, the former president was mild.
“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day!”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY
