J.D. Vance Sought to Divide, Not Unify, in Wake...

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Published Time: 16.07.2024 - 06:31:19 Modified Time: 16.07.2024 - 06:31:19

Sen. J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s newly named running mate, responded to the assassination attempt on the former president by calling out President Joe Biden.

On Saturday, July 13, Trump, 78, was injured after Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired shots at the former president in Butler, Pa., in what authorities have since confirmed was an "assassination attempt."

"Today is not just some isolated incident," Vance, 39, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) two hours after the incident. "The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination."

With the Ohio Republican rumored to be on Trump's vice presidential shortlist, several other politicians criticized Vance's response.

Two former Illinois congressmen, Adam Kinzinger and Joseph Walsh, responded to Vance’s post: “This should absolutely disqualify @JDVance1 from VP," wrote Kinzinger, 46.

"What a sick, disgusting tweet. Donald Trump IS an authoritarian fascist. The Biden campaign is correct to say that. And to connect the millions of Americans who believe that to this shooting is utterly irresponsible. You’ll make a perfect Trump VP. Shame on you," added Walsh, 62.

On Sunday, July 14, Biden, 81, ordered an “independent review” of Trump’s security at the rally and to evaluate the security for the Republican National Convention, which kicked off Monday.

"My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies, we’re neighbors, we’re friends, co-workers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together," Biden said in a public address, also noting that Trump was “not -

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seriously injured," per ABC News.

"Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know: a former president was shot, an American citizen killed, while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing," Biden said in reference to Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee who was killed in the crossfire. "We cannot, we must not go down this road in America," he said.

"Violence has never been the answer," Biden said. "Whether it's with members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th or a brutal attack on the spouse of the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation and election officials or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump."

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Comperatore, 50, was fatally struck, and two other attendees, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were critically injured at the rally. Trump’s ear was injured as a result before Secret Service agents rushed him off stage. Crooks was shot and killed by counter-snipers. The FBI is investigating and is still trying to determine Crooks’ motive.

Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee later said Trump was “doing well and grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action.”

On Monday, July 15, Trump spoke with the New York Post about the "very surreal experience."

“The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle,” he said. “I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead.”