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 2017 congressional baseball practice, as well as threats made against the conservative Supreme Court justice in 2022.
“For years, Democrats and their allies in the media have recklessly stoked fears, calling President Trump and other conservatives threats to democracy. Their inflammatory rhetoric puts lives at risk,” Scott added.
Other Republicans slammed breaking news coverage of the incident, which changes as more information becomes available.
“These scumbags in the media are responsible for what happened today. People were shot (potentially killed) and this is what they claimed happened,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X.
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) fanned the flames of a dangerous conspiracy, claiming baselessly that Biden — who made a brief address to the nation Saturday night condemning the attack — was behind what’s being investigated as an attempt on Trump’s life.
“Joe Biden sent the orders,” Collins wrote on X.
“The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, PA, should immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination,” he said in another post.