RHETORIC AND THE TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. The gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump was a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, according to the FBI. News reports say Crooks had registered to vote as a Republican but also gave $15 to the anti-Trump group Progressive Turnout Project. Obviously, there is more to learn about him and his motives.

Among the many issues that will prompt discussion in the coming days is the role incendiary rhetoric played, or did not play, in the attempted assassination. The most prominent recent example of that rhetoric, specifically aimed at Trump, came from President Joe Biden. The president, of course, has been trying to deflect attention from his infirmities after the disastrous June 27 debate with Trump. Last Monday, during a private call with donors, he said, “We’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.”

In light of what happened, it’s safe to say that the president’s words look ill-considered. And so do the words of many on the anti-Trump side who have used what might be called maximalist rhetoric against the former president.

It is not unusual to hear, on the left and in mainstream discussion, the claim that Trump’s election would literally bring the end of American democracy. It would be the end of the United States. It would be the last election in more than 200 years of U.S. history. Some characterize Trump as an American Hitler — just look at this recent magazine cover. Many on the left have said simply that Trump must be stopped. Some critics of this kind of commentary have pointed out that such talk has the possible effect of justifying extreme action against Trump. If he is that dire a threat — an American Hitler — would any action be unjustified in neutralizing that threat?

Last December the conservative writer and commentator Mollie Hemingway wrote that “This extreme and dangerous genre — of claiming Trump is Hitler — should probably be given the name ‘Assassination Prep.’” 

Back in 2011, during the Obama years, an insane gunman shot Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords at an event in Arizona. Much media commentary in places like the New York Times, Washington Post, and the cable networks focused on an ad that former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin had released featuring a map of the United States with small crosshairs scattered around the country where there were tight congressional races. Giffords’ district was one of them, although Palin did not name any of the candidates.

After the shooting, there were many calls for Republicans and conservatives to denounce the “rhetoric of violence” that commentators said Palin’s words represented. “Swearing off the rhetoric of violence: Will any prominent conservatives denounce ‘reload’ and ‘crosshairs’ imagery?” asked the left-wing journalist Joan Walsh. Her sentiments were echoed by many Democrats.

Now, there has been a great amount of what could be called the rhetoric of violence directed at Trump. After all, it appears that the multiple Democratic prosecutions and lawsuits directed at Trump, while damaging, will not keep him from running for president. In addition, after the debate, Biden’s much-discussed age-related infirmities have contributed to a continuing Trump lead in national polls. Democrats have thrown about everything they can at the former president, and so far, it has not worked. Frustration is high among Democrats.

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After the shooting, Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita posted, “For years, and even today, leftists, activists, Democrat donors and now even Joe Biden have made disgusting remarks and descriptions of shooting Donald Trump. It’s high time they be held accountable for it. The best way is through the ballot box.”

By the way, the assassination attempt happened less than three months after House Democrats introduced a bill that would remove Secret Service protection for “individuals who otherwise qualify for it upon sentencing following conviction for a federal or state felony.” The bill, sponsored by Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, would have affected one person and one person only: Donald Trump.