Trump Blames Harris and Biden for Assassination Attempts, Fundraises

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign wasted no time in sending out a fundraising email shortly after he reportedly survived a second assassination attempt within two months. This incident occurred at his golf course in Florida.

In the email, Trump declared his defiance, stating that he would “NEVER SURRENDER.” The message directed recipients to a WinRed donation page, suggesting contributions ranging from $24 to $3,300, with the flexibility of opting for a custom amount.

During a conversation with Fox News Digital on Monday morning, Trump linked the assassination attempt to political rhetoric from his opponents, asserting that the suspect was influenced by their words. He referred to the alleged shooter, Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man, claiming, “He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris and he acted on it.” Trump continued, “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 who are destroying the country.”

As of now, authorities have not provided specifics about the suspect’s motive. However, various media outlets, including the Associated Press, reported that Routh had previously posted on social media, identifying himself as a former Trump supporter. His posts reflected a range of political affiliations, including support for Bernie Sanders, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.

In April, Routh expressed support for Biden, stating, “DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose.”

Following the initial email blast, the Trump campaign issued another message with the alarming subject, “Another attempt on Trump’s life.” This correspondence reiterated the earlier theme, criticizing Kamala Harris and what they termed “her enablers in the media,” emphasizing the need for support from their followers.

Historically, Team Trump has consistently pointed fingers at Democrats following threats to the former president’s safety, often using these situations to solicit donations. For instance, in July, after an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump again placed blame on Democrats. In an interview shortly thereafter, he stated, “When this happened, people ask, whose fault is it? I think to a certain extent it’s Biden’s fault and Harris’ fault.”

During that previous attempt, a Secret Service counter-sniper shot the gunman who posed a threat to Trump. Details surrounding that incident and the shooter’s motives remain scarce even months later.

After the July incident, Trump similarly sent out a fundraising email containing the “NEVER SURRENDER” message linked to the WinRed donation page. Notably, he raised $137 million in July, with speculation that the attempted assassination contributed to this substantial figure.

In response to inquiries about Trump’s recent statements to Fox News and fundraising activities, spokesperson Steven Cheung redirected attention to a post by Trump on Truth Social. In his post, Trump attributed the violence to what he termed “Communist Left Rhetoric,” accusing Harris of embodying the misleading discourse during their debates.

Furthermore, Trump has utilized his various legal issues, including his felony convictions, as a means to galvanize donor support. Following a Manhattan jury’s ruling on 34 counts of falsifying business records, he reportedly raised nearly $53 million within just 24 hours.

The discourse surrounding blame for these incidents is prompting calls for heightened scrutiny of the Secret Service. Many of Trump’s allies are seeking answers and reviewing the security protocols surrounding the former president.

Reports indicate that during the recent incident, a Secret Service agent noticed the suspect while Trump was between 300 and 500 yards away, prompting the agent to open fire. The suspect fled but was captured later and is currently facing two firearm-related charges as of Monday afternoon. Additionally, the GOP-led House is probing the agency’s response to the previous assassination attempt, especially after the first gunman caused an injury to Trump. Following that incident, the Secret Service’s director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned.

Source: Business Insider