Trump blames Harris, Democrat ‘rhetoric’ for second assassination attempt in latest screed

Donald Trump has blamed Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic “rhetoric” for the second apparent assassination attempt against him on Sunday.

Trump claimed that “bullets are flying” because of “Communist Left Rhetoric” in his latest social media rant, posted Monday afternoon. The post comes a day after Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested after federal officials said he aimed an SKS-style rifle through the bushes at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while the former president was golfing.

Routh, who is facing two gun-related charges, appeared in court on Monday.

“The Rhetoric, Lies, as exemplified by the false statements made by Comrade Kamala Harris during the rigged and highly partisan ABC Debate, and all of the ridiculous lawsuits specifically designed to inflict damage on Joe’s, then Kamala’s, Political Opponent, ME, has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust,” Trump posted on Monday afternoon.

Two hours earlier, Fox News published an exclusive interview with the former president, during which he made similar claims.

“He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump toldFox News, referring to the suspected gunman. “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out.”

“They do it with a combination of rhetoric and lawsuits they wrap me up in,” he added. “These are the things that dangerous fools, like the shooter, listen to — that is the rhetoric they listen to, and the same with the first one.”

Harris, for her part, condemned the potential assassination attempt against Trump on Sunday.

“I am