Leftists persist with violent rhetoric following Trump shooting
Recently, leftists have been criticized for promoting the elimination of their political opponents shortly after an attempted assassination against former President Donald Trump. Despite initially downplaying the incident as just “popping noises,” left-wing media later denounced political violence. However, their concern did not last long, as some politicians and organizations continued to use inflammatory rhetoric against Trump. Senator Martin Heinrich called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 election, claiming Trump poses an “existential danger.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also compared a second Trump presidency to fascism and called for Democratic leaders to resist or resign. The Lincoln Project, a left-wing group, has also compared Trump to Hitler multiple times. This behavior has raised concerns about the use of eliminationist rhetoric and the potential implications for political discourse.
Tone-deaf leftists are back to encouraging elimination of their political opponents just days after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
After a would-be assassin shot Trump, wounded two attendees, and killed another in Butler, Penn., on July 13, left-wing media were quick to label it an “incident,” with some initially describing the shooting as “popping noises.”
When the truth was undeniable, leftists were quick to denounce political violence — backtracking on eight years of rhetoric comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler and comparing his presidency to 1930s fascist Germany. The New Republic’s June edition was even called “American Fascism,” featuring an illustration of Trump as Hitler.
Leftists’ concern about “political violence” did not last long. Less than a week after the attempt on Trump’s life, leftists are back to their old habits of trying to tie Trump to fascism.
Fearmongering
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 election because Trump poses an “existential danger” – apparently unlike an assassination attempt on a former president.
“The return of Donald Trump to the White House poses an existential danger to our democracy,” Heinrich said today, according to Fox News. “We must defeat him in November, and we need a candidate who can do that.”
The Federalist’s Editor-in-Chief Mollie Hemingway responded to the comment on X, calling the rhetoric “incendiary.”
“It remains horrific to see this type of incendiary and hateful rhetoric from Democrats days after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump,” Hemingway said. “Wise people should tell them to stop using eliminationist rhetoric against their political opponents.”
But Heinrich wasn’t the only one who felt the need to employ “eliminationist rhetoric” to attack Trump.
After the attempt on Trump’s life, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on X that “there is no place for political violence” and that she wished Trump a “speedy recovery.” Then, her very next post compared a second Trump presidency to “fascism,” telling Democratic leaders to resist or resign.
“If you’re a ‘senior Democrat’ that feels this way, you should absolutely retire and make space for true leadership that refuses to resign themselves to fascism,” Cortez said.
SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah posted a video on X featuring attendees at the Republican National Convention chanting “Fight, fight, fight.”
“Bone chilling to see at #RNCConvention people chanting ‘fight’ in unison with one arm punching in the air,” Obeidallah wrote. “Instantly conjures up rallies from 1930s Germany.”
The chant was a reference to Trump standing up and yelling “fight” after being shot in the ear.
The Lincoln Project, a left-wing group that claims to be Republican, has compared Trump to Hitler multiple times since the assassination attempt.
The evening of the attempted assassination, the group posted on X that “political violence has no place in American life.”
But just four days later, The Lincoln Project posted a video comparing footage of Trump to footage of Hitler.
“Hitler’s power wasn’t taken, it was given. And once he had control he enacted his horrifying, dictatorial agenda,” the group posted July 17. “The same dynamic is at play with Trump.”
Hitler’s power wasn’t taken, it was given. And once he had control he enacted his horrifying, dictatorial agenda.
The same dynamic is at play with Trump. pic.twitter.com/Dch4tuizcE
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 17, 2024
The Lincoln Project called Trump a “living affront to the 10 Commandments” on July 18.
The next day, the group posted a video from the RNC featuring the same chant that seems to have terrified Obeidallah.
“You don’t have to go back to Germany 100 years ago,” The Lincoln Project posted. “Just tune into the 2024 RNC.”
You don’t have to go back to Germany 100 years ago. Just tune into the 2024 RNC. pic.twitter.com/Dv1g0Jjfdc
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 19, 2024
Implications
This situation leaves the left in a conundrum.
Their denouncement of the assassination attempt and of “political violence” suggests that they never really believed Trump is comparable to Hitler, since no one would denounce trying to assassinate Hitler. On the other hand, if they really do believe Trump is a new Hitler and an existential threat to America, their denouncement of violence rings hollow.
Neither possibility is encouraging. But leftists’ reversion to Hitler and fascism comparisons less than a week after the shooting is telling.
Logan Washburn is a staff writer covering election integrity. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo’s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is originally from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.
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