A conservative commentator was fact-checked on CNN for claiming Democrats were to blame for an apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump. On Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service apprehended an armed gunman near a West Palm Beach, Florida golf course, where Trump was playing. During a discussion on “CNN This Morning,” panelists debated whether political rhetoric had contributed to the incident and recent threats in Springfield, Ohio, following Trump and J.D. Vance’s false claims about migrants.
“I’ve been struck by, in the wake of this attack, there’s just been no reflection from Democrats,” said GOP strategist Brad Todd. “After the first attempt [in Butler, Pennsylvania] Democrats immediately reacted and sort of checked the campaign. This time, none at all.”
Host Kasie Hunt stepped in, pointing out that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had condemned political violence and that Trump himself had acknowledged their calls after the recent incident. However, Todd dismissed her clarification, as per reports Raw Story.
“That’s not my point!” Todd responded. “Since Donald Trump came on the scene, Democrats have basically said that democracy will end if he’s elected, which eventually some people with a screw loose, you’re going to hear that and go, ‘Wow, maybe it’s justified if I do anything.'”
Todd referenced House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ use of the term “clear and present danger” when talking about Trump, implying it could inflame individuals. “Criticize him on his policies, but don’t act like the country ends,” Todd urged, encouraging Democrats to move away from what he called “apocalyptic rhetoric.”
Meghan Hays, a former Biden White House official, pushed back, noting that Trump himself had reacted to the attempted assassination by blaming Democrats. “Trump didn’t reflect either here, instantly blamed the Democrats for their rhetoric, and he is putting out a press release with people’s names,” Hays said. She added that this type of targeting rhetoric could escalate tensions.
Todd acknowledged Trump’s tendency toward undisciplined rhetoric but maintained that Democrats should treat him as a normal candidate rather than focusing on his legal indictments. He called for a shift in campaigning towards policy debates.
Former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams countered Todd’s argument, saying that reminding voters of Trump’s refusal to accept election results and his comments about being a dictator should not be seen as incitement. “That sounds to me like a threat to democracy,” Williams said, defending Democrats’ focus on Trump’s anti-democratic statements.