Leftists persist with violent rhetoric following Trump shooting

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

“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.”

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.”

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.