Trump says Biden, Harris rhetoric to blame for second assassination attempt

"He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it," Trump said of the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, who was arrested after fleeing the scene.

"Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country —both from the inside and out."

Trump noted comments from Biden and Harris, the latter of which is now running against Trump, painting Trump as a "threat to democracy" while in turn saying that they are "unity" leaders. "They are the opposite. These are people that want to destroy our country," he said, adding that, "It is called the enemy from within. They are the real threat."

"They do it with a combination of rhetoric and lawsuits they wrap me up in. These are the things that dangerous fools, like the shooter, listen to — that is the rhetoric they listen to, and the same with the first one."

Trump wrote on Truth, "The Rhetoric, Lies, as exemplified by the false statements made by Comrade Kamala Harris during the rigged and highly partisan ABC Debate, and all of the ridiculous lawsuits specifically designed to inflict damage on Joe’s, then Kamala’s, Political Opponent, ME, has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust. Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse! Allowing millions of people, from places unknown, to INVADE and take over our Country, is an unpardonable sin."

He added that the borders "must be closed," and all the "terrorists, criminals, and mentally insane" be immediately deported to their countries of origin. "we want people to come into our country, but they must love our nation, and come in legally and through a system of merit. The world is laughing at us as fools, they are stealing our jobs and our wealth. We cannot let them laugh any longer. Make America great again!"

Officials said on Sunday that the suspect had been in the "bushes" and that "an AK-47 style rifle with a scope, two backpacks which were hung on the fence that had ceramic tile in them, and a GoPro" had been found in the bushes at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Secret Service agents spotted the suspect, who was around 300 to 500 yards from Trump, and opened fire, though the suspect fled. He was later arrested on I-95. On social media, Routh had claimed that "democracy is on the ballot" in 2024, a claim that has been said by Democratic politicians and pundits.