After the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation of political tensions, urging Americans to view each other as fellow citizens rather than enemies. While Melania Trump condemned the act as an attack on her husband’s positive qualities, including his laughter and love of music, Biden’s history of heated rhetoric tells a different story.
Just days before the attempt on Trump’s life, Biden reportedly told donors it was time to put Trump in the crosshairs. In 2022, Biden warned of the dangers posed by Trump and MAGA Republicans, accusing them of extremism that threatens the nation. Biden’s criticism extended to the Republican Party as a whole, claiming it was controlled by Trump and MAGA Republicans, labeling them as a threat to the country.
Attempted assassination followed years of Democrats, media demonizing Trump as Hitler-like threat
Suddenly, President Biden wants to 'lower the temperature' after years of his and his surrogates' rhetoric making Hitler comparisons.https://t.co/UDEo3UNYrb
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) July 16, 2024
The inflammatory language is not confined to Biden, as other Democratic figures and media outlets have also contributed to the hostile political environment. Representative Maxine Waters once called for the public harassment of Trump administration members, while Representative Daniel Goldman suggested Trump should be eliminated to protect democracy. Media organizations like The New Republic and The Washington Post have also drawn comparisons between Trump and Adolf Hitler, further fueling the divisive rhetoric.
As Trump prepares to speak at the RNC convention following the assassination attempt, he has indicated a shift in focus towards unifying the country rather than solely criticizing Biden’s policies. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the intense polarization in American politics, with calls for a more civil discourse coming from various quarters in the aftermath of the violent attack.