Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) stated on Monday that the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was a result of a “confluence” of Republican “misinformation” and “fear-mongering,” compounded by the “complete availability of assault rifles.”
Sherrill made the remarks during an interview with CNN’s Jim Acosta, a day after Secret Service agents successfully thwarted the assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club. Agents opened fire on the suspect, who was later taken into custody.
While acknowledging the need for improved Secret Service protections for Trump, Sherrill also pointed to broader issues within the Republican Party. “I think we also have to address some underlying issues that are going on here as well,” Sherrill said. “This really seems to be the confluence of two very bad things going on in the Republican Party|
MSNBC Host Questions Whether Trump Campaign Will Urge a ‘Toning Down’ of Rhetoric Following Shooting Incident Outside His Golf Club
During an interview with CNN’s Jim Acosta, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) expressed concerns over the rise in divisive rhetoric and the widespread availability of assault rifles following the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Sherrill emphasized how the combination of misinformation and fear-mongering within the Republican Party, particularly regarding immigration, is exacerbating tensions. She pointed to the situation in Springfield, where the mayor has reportedly urged the GOP to stop spreading false information about immigrants, as portions of the town are under lockdown.
Sherrill also highlighted the ease with which dangerous individuals are accessing weapons of war, questioning how the suspect, who had prior convictions, managed to obtain firearms. “How did this man, who already had some convictions for barricading himself with a weapon, have access to weapons of war that I was trained on when I was in the military?” she asked.
The conversation then shifted to a deleted post from Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), in which he questioned, “Why they want to kill Donald Trump?” and remarked that no one is trying to assassinate President Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris. Acosta asked whether Musk could face legal repercussions for his post, to which Sherrill responded that while there may not be legal implications, the moral ramifications were significant. She expressed concern about Musk’s influence in further dividing the nation, particularly in light of heightened political tensions.
Acosta closed the segment by noting how political rhetoric seems to be escalating as the election approaches, potentially fueling more volatile situations.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) emphasized the rising intensity of political rhetoric during a recent interview, stating, “The rhetoric is getting amped up to very volatile lead levels on one side of the aisle. That is getting amped up by the GOP Republicans, MAGA Republicans, by Donald Trump.” Sherrill’s remarks come in the wake of an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, which she linked to inflammatory language and misinformation within the Republican Party.
NBC host Lester Holt echoed similar concerns on Monday, noting that the assassination attempt “comes amid increasingly fierce rhetoric on the campaign trail” from Trump. Both figures pointed to the dangerous escalation of divisive rhetoric as the election season heats up.
