Trump, JD Vance blame Kamala Harris’s ‘rhetoric’ for assassination bid

Former US President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have accused Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden of inciting divisive “rhetoric”, which they claim played a role in a second apparent assassination attempt against the Republican candidate.
Following the second assassination attempt on his life in two months, Trump highlighted that the suspect, 58-years-old Ryan Wesley Routh, echoed Biden and Harris’s language, suggesting that he is a threat to American democracy if he wins the upcoming November elections and retakes the White House.
Routh has been active on social media, sharing a range of political opinions, and was recently interviewed by major news outlets regarding his efforts to recruit Afghans in support of Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion.
In an April post, he emphasised, “Democracy is on the ballot, and we cannot lose.”
However, the suspect’s motive remains unclear as the FBI continues to conduct a probe into Routh’s background, looking at whether he was unhappy with Trump’s stance on Ukraine, ABC News reported while citing sources.
On Monday, Routh appeared in court to face charges of illegal firearm possession. He remained calm throughout the proceedings, only responding with a few “yes” answers to the judge’s questions, news agency AFP reported.
The 78-year-old leader accused Democrat candidate Harris of making false statements during the ABC debate, which he described as “rigged and highly partisan.” He also expressed outrage over the lawsuits filed against him, which he believes are designed to damage his political campaign. “Because of this Communist Left rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse!”
Routh was arrested soon after he was spotted hiding with an assault rifle behind the bushes of Trump’s Florida golf course. US Secret Service agents opened fire, not hitting him, and he fled before being arrested later.
In addition to his criticism of the political climate, Trump called for strict border control, blaming the current administration for allowing what he termed an “invasion” of the US by criminals, terrorists, and the mentally ill. “Our borders must be closed, and the terrorists, criminals, and mentally insane must be immediately removed from American cities and towns,” he said. He argued that while the US should welcome immigrants, they must enter legally and through a merit-based system.
Both Harris and Biden have denounced the apparent assassination bid against the Republican candidate.
JD Vance, Republican Senator and running mate to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race, called for the left to “tone down the rhetoric”.
He expressed his admiration for Trump’s call for peace and calm amid the heated political climate. Vance pointed out the dangers of escalating rhetoric, emphasising how it has already endangered lives. “The rhetoric is out of control. It nearly got Steve Scalise and many others killed a few years ago. It nearly got Donald Trump killed twice,” Vance said, referencing past incidents of political violence.