JD Vance blames liberal rhetoric for attempted assassination on Donald Trump

Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance has strongly blamed liberal rhetoric for the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over the weekend.

During a speech at the Georgia Faith & Freedom Coalition dinner on September 16, 2024, Vance attributed the escalating violence against Trump to the aggressive political language used by prominent liberal figures.

He specifically warned that such rhetoric could lead to dangerous consequences.

“I know it’s popular on a lot of corners of the left to say that we have a ‘both sides’ problem. And I’m not going to say we’re always perfect... But the big difference between conservatives and liberals is that no one has tried to kill Kamala Harris in the last couple of months, and two people now have tried to kill Donald Trump,” Vance said to the crowd in Atlanta.

“I’d say that’s pretty strong evidence that the left needs to tone down the rhetoric, and needs to cut this crap out.”

The remarks came after an alarming incident on September 16, when a man allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump near his West Palm Beach golf course.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent spotted a man armed with an AK-style rifle within 500 yards of Trump while he was playing golf. The agent fired at the suspect, who fled the scene but was later apprehended by authorities.

The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh from Hawaii, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation, and additional charges may follow.

Vance expressed deep concern that political rhetoric was becoming more violent, particularly from liberals who have called for Trump to be “eliminated.”

He warned that continuing such behavior could result in significant harm, stating, “Somebody’s gonna get hurt by it, and it’s gonna destroy this country. You think about what an incredible wound it would open up in the United States... I promise I will do my part to tone down the rhetoric.

But in particular, the people telling you that Donald Trump needs to be eliminated. You guys need to cut it out, or you’re gonna get somebody hurt.”

The apparent assassination attempt marked the second such attack against Trump in recent months. In July 2024, a gunman in Pennsylvania shot at Trump during a campaign rally, injuring him in the right ear before being killed by a Secret Service agent.

Trump himself has responded to the attacks, blaming the inflammatory rhetoric of Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris. In an interview with Fox News Digital,

Trump stated, “The rhetoric of Biden and Harris is causing me to be shot at.” He also posted on his Truth Social platform, writing, “Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse!”

In the aftermath of the recent attack, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both condemned political violence.

On Monday, Biden confirmed that he had spoken with Trump by phone, describing their conversation as cordial. Biden expressed his relief that Trump was unharmed and reiterated his stance against political violence, stating, “We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”

Biden also called on Congress to provide additional support to the US Secret Service to bolster protection for political figures.

Vice President Harris issued a similar statement, emphasizing the importance of condemning all forms of political violence and ensuring the safety of all political leaders, regardless of their party. “As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence,” Harris said on Sunday.

Social media has also played a significant role in fueling tensions around the incident. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), posted a comment questioning why Trump has been targeted in two assassination attempts while Biden and Harris have not.

Musk initially resisted calls to remove the post, but ultimately deleted it after facing widespread backlash. The White House condemned Musk’s post as “irresponsible,” emphasizing that violence should never be encouraged or joked about.

The US Secret Service is investigating the incident but declined to comment specifically on Musk’s post.

A spokesperson for the agency confirmed that all threats against political figures are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

As investigations continue into the latest attempt on Trump’s life, the incident has intensified the already heated political climate ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Both parties are calling for a reduction in inflammatory language, but the incident has underscored the deep political divides and rising tensions in the country.