Vance blames liberal rhetoric for apparent assassination attempt against Trump

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks during the Georgia Faith and Freedom Coalition's dinner at the Cobb Galleria Centre, September 16, 2024, in Atlanta. 

Mike Stewart/AP

CNN — 

JD Vance on Monday blamed liberal rhetoric for the apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump over the weekend.

“I know it’s popular on a lot of corners of the left to say that we have a both sides problem. And I’m not going to say we’re always perfect. I’m not going to say that conservatives always get things exactly right. But you know, the big difference between conservatives and liberals is that we have — no one has tried to kill Kamala Harris in the last couple of months, and two people now have tried to kill Donald Trump in the last couple of months,” the Republican vice presidential candidate said at the Georgia Faith & Freedom Coalition dinner in Atlanta.

“I’d say that’s pretty strong evidence that the left needs to tone down the rhetoric, and needs to cut this crap out,” he continued.

Related articleSuspect in apparent assassination attempt of Trump charged, may have been lying in wait for nearly 12 hours

Vance vowed to “do my part” to tone down the rhetoric and said he was speaking particularly to those who say that Trump needs to be “eliminated.”

“Somebody’s gonna get hurt by it, and it’s gonna destroy this country. Somebody is gonna get hurt. And you think about what an incredible wound it would open up in the United States of America, all of us, and I promise I will do my part to tone down the rhetoric,” Vance said. “But in particular, the people telling you that Donald Trump needs to be eliminated. You guys need to cut it out, or you’re gonna get somebody hurt.”

Trump earlier Monday confirmed he had spoken with President Joe Biden over the phone, saying in a statement that the pair “had a very nice call” and that it was about US Secret Service protection.

Biden – who told reporters Monday that he wants Congress to give the Secret Service “more help” in the wake of the incident – conveyed his relief that Trump was safe during the call, which a White House spokesperson described a “cordial conversation.”

Vice President Kamala Harris similarly said Sunday that she was thankful that Trump is safe. “As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” she said.

Monday morning, Elon Musk deleted a post on X that questioned why Trump has faced two apparent assassination attempts in recent months while Biden and Harris have not encountered any. Musk removed the post after initially resisting numerous calls Sunday night to do so. The X owner later claimed it was a joke.

The White House called the comment “irresponsible” and said violence should be “never encouraged or joked about.”

The Secret Service said it has seen Musk’s deleted post, with a spokesman for the agency declining to comment directly on it but saying the agency investigates all threats to the president and vice president.

“The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the social media post made by Elon Musk and as a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters involving protective intelligence,” a Secret Service spokesman told CNN. “We can say, however, that the Secret Service investigates all threats related to our protectees.”

On Sunday, a Secret Service agent fired at a suspect, who officials said was within 500 yards of Trump, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

Bradshaw said no shots were fired by the person, who later fled in a car. The Secret Service later said the suspect had no line of sight on the former president.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, has been charged with possession of a firearm while a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number in connection with the incident. He appeared in federal court Monday morning.

The investigation into Sunday’s apparent attempt on Trump’s life is continuing, and additional charges could be brought, law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told CNN. The initial gun-related charges were filed as prosecutors seek to keep Routh detained while authorities continue to investigate the incident.

 

Manhattan DA's office sued for records related to Trump prosecution

America First Legal says Bragg's prosecution of Trump was 'political persecution'

NY v. Trump sentencing delayed until after election

Fox News correspondent Nate Foy has the latest on NY v. Trump on 'America Reports.'

EXCLUSIVE: America First Legal is suing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office for records of any communication related to the prosecution of former President Trump between prosecutors and the Biden-Harris campaign, the Democratic National Convention and other groups. 

America First Legal (AFL) filed the lawsuit Monday morning. 

The organization is seeking documents and communication between Bragg’s office and the Biden-Harris campaign, the DNC, Color of Change and CREW. 

JUDGE MERCHAN SUED FOR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES AMID CONCERNS OF DAUGHTER'S DEMOCRAT WORK

It is also seeking records related to efforts to raise money off the prosecution of the former president in New York v. Trump. 

AFL is also looking to see if records exist between Bragg’s office and Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter — Loren Merchan — who runs a Democrat-affiliated political consulting firm, Authentic Campaigns. 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stands with members of his staff at a news conference after the conviction of former President Trump in his hush money trial May 30, 2024, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

"It is incumbent for Alvin Bragg’s office to meet its transparency responsibilities. The public record now reveals a direct contradiction between statements from the U.S. Department of Justice and Bragg’s own office about coordination between the two," AFL Vice President Dan Epstein told Fox News Digital. 

"And now it would appear that groups like Color of Change may be coordinating activities between Washington, D.C., and New York City behind the scenes."

AFL describes Color of Change as a far-left, Soros-funded group. The organization issued a statement characterizing the prosecution of Trump as the "fruit of our labor." 

AFL says the group visited the White House 16 times and met with both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The lawsuit comes as part of America First Legal’s ongoing investigation into Bragg’s office over concerns of impartiality, politically motivated prosecution and the weaponization of the justice system. 

AFL sued Merchan last week for refusing to turn over his financial disclosures amid questions about his daughter’s work at Authentic Campaigns. 

From left to right: Judge Juan Merchan, former President Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. (Getty Images, AP Images)

The CEO of Authentic reacted to the subpoena last week, saying the allegations against the company are "completely false and purely politically motivated." 

Under New York law, judges are required to file annual financial disclosures, which are required to be made available upon request. 

Trump was found guilty in an unprecedented criminal trial on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree after a six-week trial stemming from Bragg's investigation. Trump had pleaded not guilty.

 

CNN's Dana Bash reacts to contentious interview with JD Vance: 'It is dangerous'

CNN's Dana Bash and JD Vance clashed during an interview about Trump's migrants debate claim

CNN's Dana Bash reacts to contentious interview with JD Vance: 'Steeped in racist tropes'

CNN's Dana Bash reacted to her contentious interview with GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance on Monday about Donald Trump's "eating the pets" claim, during which he accused the CNN host of going easy on the Democratic ticket. 

CNN's Dana Bash reacted to her contentious interview with GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance about his Haitian migrants claim on Monday, during which the Ohio senator accused Bash of going easy on Vice President Kamala Harris.

"There was kind of a pregnant pause when I heard him say, ‘if we have to create stories and that’s what we’ll do,’ when I said, what, you created a story? And then he, I think, he realized what he said and moved on and went after me again," Bash began, discussing the interview.

Bash and Vance clashed on Sunday during a heated back-and-forth about claim former President Trump made about Haitian migrants in Ohio during the ABC News debate.

"The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I start talking about cat memes. If I have to, I mean, create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do, Dana, because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast," Vance said during the interview on Sunday. 

CNN's Dana Bash reacted to her interview with Sen. JD Vance on Monday during "CNN This Morning." (Screenshot/CNN)

SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT SAYS ROADS ARE LIKE ‘ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK’ AFTER HAITIAN MIGRANTS OVERRUN RURAL TOWN

When she pressed further, Vance said, "meaning we’re creating the American media focusing on it."

Bash said during the discussion on Monday that Vance "took issue with the fact that I quoted the mayor of Springfield," who called on federal officials to stop repeating inflammatory claims about migrants because it was putting residents in danger. 

"Then Vance sort of accused me of telling him that he's inciting violence," Bash said. 

Thousands of Haitians have arrived in Springfield since the COVID-19 pandemic, and residents have been pointing to an uptick in crime, mayhem and car crashes due to the massive influx of new residents, according to reports. In a town of 58,000 people, about 20,000 Haitians have arrived, The New York Times reported in early September, citing an estimate from city officials.

CNN's Dana Bash and Sen. JD Vance clash during an interview on Sunday focused on Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claims that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs. (Screenshot/CNN)

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"There are a lot of employers in Springfield who are so grateful to have these Haitian migrants there because they were trying to grow the economy in Springfield, which has been decimated in the 70s and 80s, and they didn‘t have workers to help do that. Now, they do. Questions about integrating and schools and with language and taking drivers tests, changing the laws. Those are really legitimate questions. Eating dogs and cats, that is steeped in racist tropes and there’s no other way to say it," Bash added. 

Axios reporter Alex Thompson suggested that Trump and Vance were somewhat successful in shifting the conversation from the debate, which was widely interpreted as a loss for the former president. 

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"We’ve spent the last five days talking about Springfield, Ohio. Obviously, talking about these unverified claims and in denouncing the race-baiting. But we’ve been talking about Springfield, Ohio, the last five days instead of the debate performance where honestly, Kamala kicked his butt," Thompson said.

 

Kamala Harris in 'danger zone' in swing states says CNN data reporter: National polls 'don't matter'

CNN's Harry Enten noted that Harris leads Trump in nearly every national poll

CNN's Harry Enten sounds alarm on 'danger zone' polling for VP Kamala Harris in swing states

CNN's Harry Enten sounded the alarm on swing state poll numbers for Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday and said she was in the "danger zone" due to her chances of winning the electoral college.

CNN data reporter Harry Enten sounded the alarm on Vice President Kamala Harris' current poll numbers in key battleground states and said right now she was in the "danger zone" based on her chances of winning the electoral college. 

"So let‘s take a look at the average margin nationally. Harris is ahead in the average poll by 2.5 points. But look in those seven key battleground states, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Harris is only ahead by 0.3 points," Enten told CNN's John Berman. "So the bottom line is, in those seven key battleground states, it’s a significantly tighter race than it is nationally."

Most national polls, Enten noted, show Harris leading former President Trump.

"Harris' chances if she wins the popular vote by two to three points, that chance she wins the Electoral College is only 53%. The bottom line is, you have to get all the way north to about three to four points for Harris to have a clear, clear, clear chance, the majority, the clear majority chance of winning the Electoral College. If she only wins by less than two, look at that, only a 23% chance of winning. Right now, Harris, is right now in that danger zone where, basically, about half the time, given the popular vote margin nationally, she would win," Enten said.

CNN DATA GURU SAYS HARRIS STRUGGLING WITH ‘UNDERPERFORMANCE’ FROM YOUNG VOTERS AMID TAYLOR SWIFT ENDORSEMENT

CNN's Harry Enten sounded the alarm on VP Kamala Harris' poll numbers in battleground states.  (Screenshot/CNN)

Enten said right now, Harris has about a 70% chance of winning the popular vote, and only about a 50% chance of winning the electoral college.

He added that as of today, "there’s about a 20% chance that Kamala Harris wins the popular vote, but actually loses in the Electoral College."

"So we could be heading towards one of these splits that we saw in 2016 and in 2000, whereby one candidate, Kamala Harris, wins in the popular vote, but loses in the Electoral College. Basically, at this hour, we‘re right in that sort of weird middle zone where we honestly don’t know what’s going to happen based upon the popular vote and that is why those national polls that show Kamala Harris ahead, at this point, really don’t matter that much," Enten said. 

Enten said in August that Trump has been historically underestimated in polling and therefore, despite Harris' polling gains, still had a good chance of winning.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Vice President Kamala Harris during the debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"If you’re a Kamala Harris fan and you want to rip open the champagne bottle, pop that cork, do not do it. Donald Trump is very much in this race. If we have a polling shift like we’ve seen in prior years, from now until the final result, Donald Trump would actually win. I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but I am saying that he is very much in this ball game based upon where he is right now, and compare that to where he was in prior years," Enten said in early August.

A poll released on Sunday found that Harris had narrowed Trump's lead in Iowa, a state he won by 9 points in 2016 and in 2020.

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Harris has narrowed Trump’s lead to four points, trailing the former president 47% to 43% in Iowa, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released Sunday.