Trump blames Biden and Harris’ rhetoric for attacks against him

Donald Trump claimed on Monday, without offering evidence, that comments by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris that he poses a threat to democracy had inspired what appears to be the latest attempt on his life, even though the Republican has a long history of incendiary speeches and advocating the jailing or prosecution of his political opponents.

With just 50 days until the election and early voting ballots already mailed out in some places, this year’s presidential campaign had been one of the most turbulent in American history even before Sunday’s apparent assassination attempt on Trump. The former president was safe after the incident in Florida and praised the Secret Service for protecting him but did not hold back from lashing out at his rivals.

“Their rhetoric is getting me shot, when I am the one who is going to save the country and they are the ones destroying the country, inside and out,” Trump said in comments to Fox News Digital.

The Republican’s statements are a far cry from the way he reacted after an assassination attempt against him in July during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a bullet grazed his ear.

At the time, Trump called for national unity and said on social media that «it is more important than ever to stay united.» Days later, however, the former president resumed his usual comments in which he strongly criticizes Democrats.

Although authorities are still investigating the motives of both the attacker in Pennsylvania and the person who was arrested on Sunday in Florida, Trump has made it clear that he perceives the attempts on his life to be politically motivated, and blames his rivals for it.