OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sparked outrage online over her response to the second attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life in as many months.
“There never is a place for political violence of any kind in America. As the investigation into today’s incident continues, let us commend law enforcement for their actions to keep the former President safe from harm,” she wrote.
There never is a place for political violence of any kind in America.
As the investigation into today’s incident continues, let us commend law enforcement for their actions to keep the former President safe from harm.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 16, 2024
Online users and supporters of the former president immediately pounced, with most of them blaming her and fellow Democrats for using violent rhetoric against Trump, accusing him of being a “threat to democracy” and “dangerous” to the country.
“Nancy, you and the democrats are responsible for this. Your obstruction during J6, your constant attacks against Trump, etc. Hypocrites,” Valentina Gomez, a former GOP candidate for Missouri secretary of state, wrote, adding: “This wasn’t an incident, this was an assassination attempt.”
“What a Democrat did to Trump today was 100x worse than anything any Trump supporter did on January 6th. Yet you call J6 the worst day in American history and today’s assassination attempt an ‘incident’ – Resign,” conservative podcaster Benny Johnson wrote.
“You tore a President’s speech [sic] up during his State of the Union speech live for the world to see. You are a large part of the violence against Trump,” another user wrote.
“Same cookie cutter BS. Stop acting like you give a sh*t,” another said.
Same cookie cutter BS. Stop acting like you give a sh*t. pic.twitter.com/3bAs0IlrTi
— SaltyGoat (@SaltyGoat17) September 16, 2024
“It [was] an ass*ss*nation attempt. Shame on Nancy Pelosi for trying to minimize it,” said another.
One more wrote: “You are a pathetic human scum! You don’t give a damn and you and your cult party are the ones inciting this violence every single day!!”
It wasn’t an “incident.” Say it… assassination attempt.
You and your ilk are responsible.
— D. Mclaughlin – panem et circenses (@DonMcLaughlin9) September 16, 2024
You have created this crap! You belong in prison
— TrumpGirl (@Theboops01) September 16, 2024
Says the person who calls Trump a threat to democracy after a sip of vodka tonic to the radical host on any MSNDC show she appears on.
Sit back down. You’re equally responsible and at fault for this!
P.S. 0-2 😊
— Liberacrat™️ (@Liberacrat) September 16, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced on Sunday that state law enforcement agencies will investigate the assassination attempt that took place at his golf course on Sunday near his Mar-a-Lago estate.
“The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club. The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,” DeSantis wrote on the X platform.
The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club.
The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 16, 2024
The comment came as the FBI announced it was indeed investigating a “second assassination attempt” against the former president.
In the days afterward, Secret Service veteran and prominent political commentator Dan Bongino suggested the possibility of a “mole” within his former agency or Department of Homeland Security.
“I have to ask you all a really troubling question now that I promised you 10 years ago I would have called myself nuts for asking this,” Bongino said before a long pause. “Is there a mole inside the DHS or Secret Service?”
Authorities arrested 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh after Secret Service agents claimed he was aiming a rifle in the direction of Trump as he approached a green during a round of golf at his course near Palm Beach, Fla.