Trump's VP Finalists Blame Biden And The Media In Shooting's Wake

Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), two top contenders to become Trump’s running mate, blamed the media and President Joe Biden immediately following former President Donald Trump’s apparent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.

“Today is not just some isolated 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,” Vance posted on X, formerly called Twitter, shortly after the incident Saturday.

Vance’s statement reflected the messaging from some Republicans in the aftermath of the shooting that Democrats are to blame because they sought to portray Trump’s candidacy and the 2024 election as a referendum on democracy.

Biden’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Vance’s tweet.

Vance also posted a screenshot of a headline from CNN that described Trump as having “fallen” on stage as the story was developing. “Absolute ghouls,” Vance wrote, referring to the outlet.

“Even in a horrifying moment such as this they just can’t help themselves,” Rubio wrote on X, sharing a screenshot of the same CNN headline. (The headline was updated as news developed.)

Vance and Rubio are two finalists for the role of Trump’s 2024 running mate. Trump is reportedly set to announce his pick at this week’s Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), whom Trump has also considered for his VP slot, blamed the other side too.

“Congressman Scalise, Justice Kavanaugh, and now President Trump,” Scott wrote on X, referring to the Republican congressman who was gravely wounded during a