Later in the interview, #Trump returned to the shooting unprompted, focusing blame on President #Biden & MVP #KamalaHarris.

“I think to a certain extent it’s Biden’s fault & Harris’ fault. And I’m the opponent. Look, they were weaponizing govt against me, they brought in the whole DOJ to try & get me. They weren’t too interested in my health & safety,” he claimed w/o evidence.

#FactCheck#TrumpLies#Incitement #extremism #radicalization#PoliticalViolence#DomesticTerrorism#ConspiracyTheories

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He further suggested they [#Biden & #Harris] played a role in undermining his #security: “They were making it very difficult to have proper staffing in terms of Secret Service.” [←bald-faced #lie]

“I’m not saying they wanted you to get shot,” Dr. Phil said, “but do you think it was OK w/them if you did?”

“I don’t know,” #Trump replied. “There’s a
lot of hatred.” (Biden, Harris, & other Democratic leaders condemned the shooting in the aftermath & Biden phoned Trump to offer prayers & support…)

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The deceased 20-yr-old gunman was a registered #Republican voter, as noted throughout national media coverage…, there appears to be NO solid #evidence that he was driven by partisanship or ideology. A sweeping #FBI investigation, including analysis of his digital devices & interviews w/ >450 people, has found no clear motive, acc/to congressional testimony from FBI Dir Christopher Wray.

#FactCheck#TrumpLies#Incitement #extremism #radicalization#PoliticalViolence#ConspiracyTheories

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#FBI ofcl reiterated those findings on Wed in a call w/reporters. They suggested that the gunman, who also considered attacking a #Biden event, was seeking infamy & selected the #Trump rally as a “target of opportunity.”…

The provocative rhetoric from Trump & his allies isn’t just #unfounded but also carries a #disturbing risk: #Threat assessment & #law enforcement leaders have told me that the messaging is fueling the danger of #PoliticalViolence headed into the #election. …

#Incitement

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#Trump’s political #incitement more broadly—[that has] increasingly focused on a supposed grand conspiracy to steal the #election from him—has made potential #violence from #MAGA #extremists a top concern. As one source put it, “they’re piling on the idea that the opposition is so out to get Trump that they even tried to kill him, & therefore retaliation is justified.” Another described #ConspiracyTheories about the shooting gives extremists “a really big plot point” for retaliatory violence.
The blame narrative from #Trump & his allies also expanded this week when #Republican Reps #CoryMills of FL & #EliCrane of Az convened an “independent” hearing they called the “J 13 Forum” at the #HeritageFoundation (home of #Project2025). They & several colleagues conducted congressional testimony-style interviews w/participants including fmr Secret Service agent & #FarRight media personality #DanBongino, & fmr Blackwater CEO & Trump political operative #ErikPrince.

#Incitement #extremism