In a surprising twist in the political saga that is America, President Joe Biden has come out swinging against political violence following the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump. It seems that instead of blaming the people actually behind the gun, Biden pointed fingers at the former president himself and his running mate, Kamala Harris. Apparently, the president believes that political disagreements should be sorted out like refined gentlemen at the ballot box, rather than with bullets. While that sounds nice in theory, it doesn’t exactly address the elephant—no, make that the would-be assassin—in the room.
At a recent conference in Philadelphia, Biden took the opportunity to speak about the importance of resolving differences peacefully. He bemoaned how America has already faced too many “tragedies” stemming from political violence, urging citizens to avoid violence at all costs. This leads to the question of whether he’s had his ear to the ground during his own presidency, where rhetoric from the left has often seemed to endorse hostility toward conservative figures. One might wonder if Biden is providing a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
He’s part of the problem ~ | Biden — who said it was "time to put Trump in a bullseye" and has repeatedly called him a "threat to this nation" — says there's "no place for political violence." Credit: @RNCResearch pic.twitter.com/EspjLa1sLQ
— Mary (@matjendav4) September 16, 2024
With the Secret Service managing to keep Trump unscathed during this latest attempt, Biden showered praise on them for their swift actions. He claimed that discussing any necessary enhancements to their security measures was a top priority. After all, it’s not like Trump has been a frequent target of threats during this administration, right? Perhaps it’s time for Congress to take an active role in funding the protection of a former president, but wouldn’t it be through the looking glass? After all, that same Congress has been busy trying to enact policies that could be perceived as hostile toward law enforcement in general.
As the situation unfolded, details emerged about the alleged assailant, Ryan Wesley Routh, who decided making a name for himself by packing heat near Trump’s golf club in Florida was a smart life choice. Charged with federal gun crimes, Routh apparently thought armed confrontation was the best way to deal with his frustrations—perhaps he missed the memo about peaceful protests.
In his own defense, Trump expressed frustration with Biden, Harris, and their cronies, insinuating that the toxic rhetoric from the left may have motivated Routh to act. With a sharp retort, Trump suggested that the vitriol spouted by the Democrats is doing far more harm than the common sense solutions he proposes. In a political climate where words may be just as lethal as bullets, it begs the question: who should truly be held accountable for the rising tensions? While Biden may dream of an America that finds all its answers in peaceful voting booths, reality suggests that his party’s constantly escalating incendiary language is quite the firestarter.