Speaker Mike Johnson says Americans must ‘renounce violent rhetoric’ after Trump shooting
House Speaker Mike Johnson called on both parties to “tone down the rhetoric” that could provoke political violence, such as the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
“America is waking up to a rather surreal morning. This is a horrific act of political violence that should be roundly condemned. It is clear that as a society we cannot continue on this path,” Johnson said on NBC’s Today Show.
He said he had been briefed by police and had spoken to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas the night before.
“I’ve already announced that Congress will conduct a full investigation into yesterday’s tragedy to determine where there were security failures and everything the American people need to know and deserve to know. But in the meantime, we need to tone down the rhetoric. We need to lower the temperature in this country.”
Speaker Mike Johnson called on both parties to “tone down the rhetoric” that could provoke political violence, such as the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
“We need leaders from all parties on both sides to address this and make sure it happens so we can move forward and preserve our free society.”
In the opening moments of his campaign speech, a bullet grazed Trump’s ear. Eight rounds were fired by a 20-year-old sniper wielding an “AR-style” weapon from the roof of a nearby building before the killer – identified as Thomas Crooks – was shot dead by police.
One participant was fatally injured and two others are in critical condition.
“Joe Biden gave the orders,” Congressman Mike Collins (Republican of Georgia) wrote of X.
He quoted a message with a transcript of Joe Biden saying after the debate on July 8: “We’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to focus on Trump.”
Trump, blood on his face, is surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is taken off stage
Biden and Trump spoke by phone Saturday night after the shooting. Biden said publicly that he was grateful that Trump was safe and condemned political violence.
“The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, Pennsylvania, must immediately bring charges against Joseph R. Biden for solicitation of murder,” Collins wrote in a separate post.
Democrats impeached Trump for inciting an insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Republicans in Congress have already launched an investigation into what they call a “terrifying” security lapse that allowed a gunman to get so close to Trump.
The suspect opened fire on the former president from a rooftop 400 feet from the stage where he addressed thousands of MAGA fans Saturday night.
House Speaker James Comer (R-Kentucky) told DailyMail.com in a statement that he plans to hold a hearing with Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to determine the cause of the errors.
The House Committee on Homeland Security also said in a statement that it wants to hold a hearing with the Secret Service.
The shooter has been identified as a 20-year-old registered Republican from the Butler area who has donated to Biden.
His father, Matthew Crooks, 53, told CNN he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but would “wait until I talk to the police” before saying anything.
The shooter had no criminal history and police are still trying to determine a motive.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., sowed doubt in the FBI that it would ever get to the bottom of the historic assassination attempt. No gunman has come so close to killing a president since Ronald Reagan was shot in the stomach outside the Washington Hilton in 1981.
“The same agency that investigated the Las Vegas shooting and the January 6th pipe bombs is now investigating the attempted assassination of Trump. This is also the same agency that raided Mar-a-Lago. I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of this very quickly,” Rep. Thomas Massie wrote on X.
Trump was bloodied and injured during the assassination attempt. He was seen suddenly grabbing his ear as loud bangs rang out and passed by, then diving to the ground.
The Secret Service gathered around the 45th President of the United States as piercing screams could be heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then stood up, blood streaming down his cheek, raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted “fight” as the crowd chanted “USA” as he was dragged off the stage and forced into a vehicle.