Are they at fault?
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sharply criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her comments labeling former President Trump as a “danger to our country and the world” following a second apparent assassination attempt on him.
Rubio argued that such extreme rhetoric—comparing Trump to historical figures like Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini—might lead some individuals to believe that drastic actions are necessary to prevent what they perceive as an imminent threat. “When you repeatedly compare someone to historical tyrants, it’s only natural that many people will be alarmed and consider voting against them,” Rubio told “America’s Newsroom” hosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino. “However, this kind of rhetoric can also drive a few individuals to take dangerous actions, believing that they must act to protect democracy from this ‘evil’ figure.”
Referring to Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who was arrested for allegedly aiming an SKS-style rifle at Trump at the Trump International Golf Course in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, Rubio said, “We need to investigate how this person managed to breach security, what motivated him, and how his views might have been shaped by the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding Trump.” He added that Routh’s online posts suggest he was influenced by the narrative of Trump as a looming authoritarian threat.
The day after the latest attempt on Trump’s life, Clinton accused Trump of inciting violence by “throwing out red meat” to his supporters, asserting that he should focus on de-escalating tensions if he were a true leader. “We cannot afford to give this very dangerous man another opportunity to harm our country and the world,” Clinton said.
Other leading Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, have echoed similar concerns about Trump, describing him as a “threat to democracy” and urging voters to unite against his influence.
