Biden speaks about the shooting at a Trump rally on July 13, 2024.
Photo: AFP via Getty Images
More than 60 years later, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is still fueling countless conspiracy theories. And with the rise of social media, baseless rumors can spread like wildfire. So it’s no surprise that within minutes of the apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump, wild claims began circulating about what really happened at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and who was to blame for the attack.
What was disappointing, if not surprising, was that it wasn’t just random X users posting unfounded accusations, though the shooter’s identity and motives are still unknown. Several Republican elected officials were quick to blame the left, and President Joe Biden specifically, for the shooting that wounded Trump in the ear, killed at least one audience member, and injured another. (The unidentified gunman was killed by the Secret Service.)
Representative Mike Collins of Georgia actually accused Biden of ordering the attack. He cited a report that Biden used the phrase “It’s time to put Trump in the bullseye,” during a call to donors on July 8, and called for charges against Biden.
In retrospect, this is an unfortunate choice of words by Biden, but it’s clear he was speaking metaphorically, not urging donors to literally shoot his opponent.
Other Republicans — including several people on Trump’s VP shortlist — blamed Biden, the Democratic Party, and the mainstream media for the shooting, arguing they all have encouraged violence against Trump by vilifying him throughout his political career:
Later on Saturday evening, Chris LaCivita, Trump’s co-campaign manager, echoed this view:
Of course, Trump is known for repeatedly using violent rhetoric, and even shrugging off the January 6 mob’s “Hang Mike Pence” chant as “common sense.”
And Biden’s remarks on the attack against his rival didn’t exactly bolster the narrative Republicans are pushing. The president initially released a statement strongly condemning political violence:
I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.
Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.
Biden reiterated these points at a press conference later on Saturday night.
“There’s no place in America for this type of violence,” he said. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
