CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings blamed his own network Monday for allowing former President Trump’s rhetoric to be mischaracterized by the Harris campaign in a way “designed to radicalize.”
Trump was rushed off of the golf course this past Sunday at Trump International in West Palm Beach, Fla., after the Secret Service discovered a gunman in the bushes.
As authorities treat the episode as a second apparent assassination attempt, the former president has argued that President Biden and Vice President Harris’ “rhetoric” is what is causing him to be “shot at.”
The day after the assassination attempt, CNN host Abby Phillip hosted a panel of commentators debating the relationship between heated rhetoric about the election and the recent attempts on Trump’s life.
“I have to say, when I see what Democratic politicians say about Donald Trump, when I see what Democratic commentators say about Donald Trump, and their platform is built on a bunch of lies, frankly, that are designed to radicalize a political base, it makes me wonder… How much do they really care about the violence that you and I both agree is terrible?” Jennings asked.
He called out the Harris campaign for fearmongering about what the country would look like if Trump becomes president again.
“The underpinning of her campaign, I mean, she repeats it herself, ‘Trump will be a dictator on day one.’ I mean, this country fights dictators. That‘s what our history — we fight dictators,” he said while the panel erupted to protest that it was true.
Here’s what we know about the assassination attempt on Trump in Florida:
- Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15, 2024.
- Trump sent out a statement to supporters soon after to report that he was “SAFE AND WELL.”
- The suspect — identified as Ryan Routh, 58, of Hawaii — was able to get within 300 to 500 yards of Trump at a chain link fence on the edge of the course, where he had an AK-47 and a GoPro camera set up, apparently to record the planned shooting.
- Routh has a history of supporting progressive causes online and has made 19 donations to Democratic candidates since 2019.
- A Secret Service agent spotted and opened fire on Routh as he put his gun through the fence. The suspect fled and was arrested on I-95 a short time later.
- According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Trump’s security detail was lighter because he isn’t a sitting president — despite the previous attempt on his life in July.
Trump joked during a town hall with Sean Hannity in December that he would not be a dictator “except for day one.”
He added, “Other than day one – we’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.’”
“‘There‘ll be a bloodbath,’” Jennings said as another example of Trump being taken out of context when he predicted an economic “bloodbath” for the automotive industry should President Biden win.
During last week’s presidential debate, Harris said, “Donald Trump, the candidate, has said, in this election, there will be a bloodbath if the outcome of this election is not to his liking.”
“It is said by every Democrat working for or around [Harris’] campaign every day on this network and every other one,” Jennings said.
“The bloodbath thing is stated every single day.”
Follow the latest on the foiled assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Florida:
- Trump ‘safe and well’ after being targeted by would-be assassin with AK-47 assault rifle for second time in 2 months
- Shots fired near Trump live updates: Would-be shooter was 300-500 yards away, came with scope and GoPro — ‘Intent on filming’
- Who is alleged would-be Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh?
- Trump assures he’s ‘SAFE AND WELL’ after Secret Service fires at man armed with assault rifle at president’s golf resort
- Trump’s security at golf course was lighter because he’s not sitting prez: official
- Demands mount for Trump to get same protection as Biden — after yet another assassination plot
“Use of the word ‘bloodbath’ when he was talking about vehicle manufacturing jobs in the United States, Vice President Harris improperly and unfairly mischaracterized that as him saying there would be a bloodbath if he were elected,” Phillip confirmed, but clarified, “However, she did not say that if Trump were elected, there would be a bloodbath.”
Jennings argued that these kinds of false narratives are part of the Democratic Party’s strategy.
“I know you have interviewed and had people out here and have watched the same coverage I have. The ‘bloodbath’ garbage, it is a pillar of the Democratic campaign against Trump, as is ‘dictator,’ as is ‘eliminate the U.S. Constitution,’” Jennings said.