Speaker Mike Johnson says after Trump shooting Americans must 'turn down the violent rhetoric'
Speaker Mike Johnson called on both parties to 'turn the rhetoric down' that could provoke political violence such as the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
'America awakens to a rather surreal morning. This is a horrific act of political violence that ought to be roundly condemned. Obviously, we can’t go on like this as a society,' Johnson said on NBC's Today Show.
He said he'd been briefed by law enforcement and had spoken to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas the previous night.
'I’ve already announced that Congress will do a full investigation of the tragedy yesterday to determine where there were lapses in security and anything else that the American people need to know and deserve to know. But in the meantime, we’ve got to turn the rhetoric down. We’ve got to turn the temperature down in this country.'
Speaker Mike Johnson called on both parties to 'turn the rhetoric down' that could provoke political violence such as the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump
'We need leaders of all parties on both sides to call that out and make sure that happens so that we can go forward and and maintain our free society.'
In the opening moments of his campaign speech, a bullet grazed Trump's ear. Eight rounds were fired by a 20-year-old sniper with an 'AR-style' weapon from a nearby building's rooftop, before the assassin - identified as Thomas Crooks - was shot dead by law enforcement.
One attendee was fatally wounded and two more are in critical condition.
'Joe Biden sent the orders,' wrote Congressman Mike Collins, R-Ga., on X.
He quoted a post with a transcript of Joe Biden saying on July 8 after the debate 'We’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.'
Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage
Biden and Trump spoke by phone Saturday night after the shooting. Biden publicly said he is grateful Trump is safe and denounced political violence.
'The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, PA, should immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination,' Collins wrote in a separate post.
Democrats impeached Trump for inciting an insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Republicans in Congress have already launched investigations into what they describe as a 'frightening' security lapse that allowed a gunman to get so close to Trump.
The suspect opened fire on the former president from a roof 130 yards away from the stage where he was speaking to thousands of MAGA fans on Saturday night.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told DailyMail.com in a statement that he plans to hold a hearing with the Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to get to the bottom of the failures.
The House Homeland Security Committee also released a statement indicating their desire to hold a hearing with the Secret Service.
The shooter has been ID'd as a 20-year-old registered Republican and Butler-area local who donated to Biden.
His father, Matthew Crooks, 53, told CNN he was trying to figure out 'what the hell is going on' but would 'wait until I talk to law enforcement' before speaking.
The shooter had no criminal history and law enforcement is still working to identify a motive.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., sowed doubt in the FBI ever getting to the bottom of the historic assassination attempt. No gunman has come that close to shooting a president since Ronald Reagan was shot in the stomach outside the Washington Hilton in 1981.
'The same bureau that investigated the Las Vegas shooting and the January 6th pipe bombs is now investigating the attempted assassination of Trump. This is also the same bureau that raided Mar-a-Lago. I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of this soon,' Rep. Thomas Massie wrote on X.
Trump was left bloodied and hurt during the assassination attempt as he was seen to suddenly grab hold of his ear as loud bangs rang out and whizzed by before he ducked to the floor.
The Secret Service swarmed around the 45th US President as piercing screams were heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then got to his feet with blood pouring down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted 'fight' while the audience shouted 'USA' as he was dragged off stage and bundled into a vehicle.
