By Xhabir Deralla
Republicans accused President Joe Biden of fostering a “heated political environment” and, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, he should be “called out” for political attacks on former President Trump. Then, in the best practice of false balance, Johnson appealed to both sides to “turn the rhetoric down” the morning after Trump was injured in what was an assassination attempt during a Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13—an act that is despicable by any standard.
Other Republicans joined a chorus of accusers against the Democrats, primarily targeting Joe Biden and his campaign, who they claim should be blamed for the rhetoric that led to the violent act. It’s hardly surprising anymore that even some Democrats agree that “both sides” should tone down their campaigns.
President Biden provided an immediate, wholehearted statement, called Mr. Trump to ask about his condition, and called for an independent investigation into the assassination attempt.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence, or any violence for that matter. An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. Everything. It’s not who we are as a nation. It’s not America. And we cannot allow this to happen. Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is as important as that right now: Unity,” Biden said.
Disinformation and conspiracy theories boomed minutes after the assassination attempt on Trump, making the U.S. elections even more uncertain and the country less secure, echoing the worst days of political violence in the country.
What’s wrong with this story? Ironically, only the sheer fact that the very people who ignited the fire are now complaining about the smoke. Indeed, the calls to tone down the campaign come from the Republican and right-wing circles. That’s wrong. Beyond words wrong.
The man who almost got the US into a civil war on January 6, 2020. The confirmed hater and instigator of hate. Who didn’t hesitate to spill racial, gender, ethnic, and political hate from the political stage from day one.
ABC News counted 54 documented pieces of evidence – instances of violent crimes, threats, and assaults where perpetrators cited Trump’s influence, as evidenced in police and court records only (excluding statements, tweets, and public expressions of hate—countless in number). Despite his so-very-long history of aggressive attacks against President Biden, Trump now portrays himself as a victim, and a significant portion of the American and global public seems to accept this narrative. It’s a striking example of collective bewilderment. Yes, that’s what I call the world being stupefied.
It may not be the crucial argument, but it still serves as an illustration of the irony and absurdity—Trump was shot at by a registered Republican using an AR-style assault rifle, the very type of weapon that Trump and his allies claim they will “do nothing about” in terms of regulation and banning to reduce armed violence in the country.
Trump is the person who, even when denouncing violence, makes it clear that he supports violence and hate. He claims he’s “the least racist person that you’ve ever encountered,” yet repeatedly makes explicit racist remarks, dehumanizes immigrants by calling them criminals and rapists, and proposed a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S., among numerous other transgressions.
There is a stark difference between a heated public debate and mere hate speech. The only accelerant of hate in U.S. politics is none other than Mr. Trump.
And now, President Biden needs to “cool the temperature” of the public debate? How? How do you address someone who is a misogynist, racist, anti-democrat, and insurrectionist? Are there euphemisms for these words? Is there a recipe to describe that these elections in the U.S. are a choice between democracy and authoritarianism without saying that? Or should the American people just give up their electoral rights and let Trump into the Oval Office?
Answers to these questions are more than obvious. I think.
This is an opinion article. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author.
