‘There Is No Place for Political Violence’: Across Spectrum, A Few Call for Calm
Republican calls for joint appearance by Biden and Trump
While the attempted assassination of Donald Trump has amped vengeful and vitriolic rhetoric in the hours since a gunman opened fire at the former president’s rally, a few voices across the political spectrum are calling for cooler heads to prevail.
A number of figures on the far-right, including Republican Reps Lauren Boebert, of Colorado and Mike Collins and Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of Georgia, have been pointing fingers at President Biden and Democrats since a gunman opened fire in the opening minutes of Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pa., including open calls for warfare as the words “civil war” trended on social media.
Elsewhere, however, a few from both left and right tried to cool the rancor.
Federal law enforcement authorities have identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa, as the gunman in what they have officially termed as an assassination attempt of the former president.
The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee was injured but said to be “fine,” following the attack.
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), one of the most prominent progressives and political opponents of Trump’s nonetheless soundly denounced all political violence.
“There is no place for political violence, including the horrific incident we just witnessed in Pennsylvania,” she posted on social media. “It is absolutely unacceptable and must be denounced in the strongest terms.
“My heart goes out to all the victims and I wish the former President a speedy recovery,” she added.
Meanwhile, Republican political commentator SE Cupp called on rivals Trump and President Biden to hold a joint appearance for the sake of national unity.
“Trump and Biden should do a joint presser in coming days. Unite the country, remind people this is an election not a war, call for civility,” she posted to social media. “Would be politically good for both of them, would be existentially necessary for the country.”
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