White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday claimed that Donald Trump is a “threat to democracy” just two days after a Biden-Harris supporter attempted to assassinate the former president in Florida.
During a press conference at the White House, Jean-Pierre doubled down on the inflammatory rhetoric Democrats have accused Republicans of perpetuating after lecturing that “it is important to bring down the temperature” of political discourse.
A reporter asked, “Just to clarify, so you’re saying that the president and the vice president believe that former President Donald Trump should be toning down his rhetoric?”
Jean-Pierre replied, “President Biden has been clear-eyed about the threat that the former president represents to our democracy. He’s been clear-eyed about that.”
WH press sec talks about how "it is important to bring down the temperature" and in a follow-up response says "President Biden has been clear-eyed about the threat that the former president represents to our democracy." pic.twitter.com/ipMuRL96AP
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 17, 2024
Jean-Pierre’s remark follows House Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) who likewise attacked “extreme MAGA Republicans” shortly after the second attempt on Trump’s life.
Trump on Monday blasted Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for pushing false rhetoric about him that’s inspired a “whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust” in politics and driven deranged Democrats like Ryan Routh and Thomas Crooks to violence against him.
“The Rhetoric, Lies, as exemplified by the false statements made by Comrade Kamala Harris during the rigged and highly partisan ABC Debate, and all of the ridiculous lawsuits specifically designed to inflict damage on Joe’s, then Kamala’s, Political Opponent, ME, has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust,” Trump wrote.
“Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse!” Trump added.
Trump reiterated his belief Democrat rhetoric is to blame in an interview with Fox News Digital Monday, stating suspected shooter Ryan Wesley Routh “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.”
“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,” Trump told Fox.
Indeed, Routh’s own social media accounts have parroted exact talking points used by Biden and Harris against Trump, such as the “democracy is on the ballot” line.
For years, Democrats have publicly espoused violent rhetoric against Trump, making little effort to hide their extreme hatred for the former president and his supporters.
Nevertheless, the media and Democrats have blamed Trump for the second attempt on his life, claiming his own rhetoric is prompting people to try and kill him.
WATCH: MSNBC's Alex Witt argues *the Trump campaign* needs to turn down the rhetoric now that Donald Trump has been shot at for the second time in three months.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 15, 2024
"Do you expect there to be calls from within the Trump campaign to [tone it down]?"
Elise Jordan replies she hopes… pic.twitter.com/NGjxqIsTPR
.@RepSherrill (D-N.Y.) blames Trump, GOP's "attempts to divide, to enrage the population, to put out false rumors & misinformation rhetoric" as well as the "availability of assault rifles" for 2nd assassination attempt pic.twitter.com/Cz3tbaeCfK
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 16, 2024
Opinion: Opinion: There is no place in politics for violence. That said, the former president, Donald Trump, brings a lot of this stuff on himself. https://t.co/vq4J5VSKIe
— Enquirer (@Enquirer) September 16, 2024
Watch the full WH press briefing: