Butler, Pennsylvania – A group of Republican lawmakers are pointing fingers at US President Joe Biden, attributing his campaign rhetoric to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Nearly a dozen lawmakers have implicated Mr. Biden and Democrats at large for the shooting that took place at the ex-president’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening.
The accusations stem from a comment made by Mr. Biden during a private phone call with donors last week. He was reported to have said, “I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.” Following the attack, Mr. Biden condemned the violence and ordered a review of security at the rally.
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a registered Republican and a kitchen worker from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper after firing at the former president. Republican lawmakers like Georgia Rep. Mike Collins and Sen. Marsha Blackburn have highlighted Mr. Biden’s “bullseye” comment and questioned his responsibility in the incident.
Other Republican figures like Rep. Lauren Boebert, Sen. J.D. Vance, and Sen. Tim Scott have also weighed in, criticizing the rhetoric from the left and the media, attributing it to the attempted assassination. Rep. Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader, who himself was a victim of a shooting in 2017, emphasized the need to curb incendiary rhetoric and prevent further acts of violence.
As the political blame game unfolds, with Democrats like Rep. Bennie Thompson facing criticism for efforts to end Trump’s Secret Service protection, the aftermath of the shooting brings to light the deep political divisions and tensions in the country. Calls for unity and denouncement of violence have been echoed by Mr. Biden and other political leaders, emphasizing the need to address and de-escalate the heightened antagonism in American politics.