Democrats in the US must take responsibility for the division and hatred that led to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump over the weekend.
That's according to many of the delegates who have gathered this week in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention where Mr Trump will formally accept his party’s nomination.
Following Saturday's shooting, President Joe Biden delivered a televised address to the nation, condemning the violence and warned that "political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated".
Speaking to Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie in Milwaukee, Jeff Taylor, a Republican delegate from Iowa, said he believes Democrats must shoulder the blame for the way Mr Trump is viewed by many Americans.
“Democrats have very much taken a demonisation approach in a personal way of calling him a fascist and comparing him to Hitler,” he said.
“Before that, it was a Russian puppet and all that.
“That stirred a lot of people up, thinking he’s so evil he must be stopped.”
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally following an assassination attempt. Image: AP Photo/Evan VucciDuring his first run for the Presidency, Mr Trump regularly called for his opponent Hillary Clinton to be jailed and described Mexians as "rapists".
When asked if Republicans were also guilty of using inflammatory discourse, Mr Taylor conceded they were “to some extent”.
“But it’s a little bit different,” he said.
“I don’t think the average Republican is calling Biden those kinds of names.”
Donald Trump and Joe Biden take part in the 2024 CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta, 27-6-24. Image: Will Lanzoni/CNNAnother Republican delegate, Thomas from Ohio, said he knew exactly who to blame for the division in American society.
“I think the division is caused by the ruling, managerial elite class,” he said.
“Their objective is to get the pitchfork people and the torch people angry at each other so they don’t get mad at the King.
“That’s kind of how it is.”
He also said the footage of Mr Trump being shot was proof he was the kind of leader America needs in the years ahead.
“Many people would just crumble into a little [ball] and be whisked off by the Secret Service,” he said.
“Not him, he comes up and he does the, fight, fight, fight’ [chant].
“It tells you, ‘Come after me, I’m still going to fight, nothing’s going to stop me.’
Trump on trial in New York. Pool Photo by Doug Mills/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News“If you look at the timing of the assassination attempt before the nomination [at] a national convention, that would have been a very problematic situation.
“We’re here to Make America Great Again.”
Jean from California was watching the rally live on television when the shooting took place.
At first, she was unsure if Mr Trump had simply fallen off stage but then she grasped the full reality of what had happened.
“I heard the gunshot and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s gunfire,’” she said.
“Then it was announced that he had been shot. What an awful way to conduct politics.
“You don’t have to kill someone because they don’t agree with you.”
Former US President Donald Trump arrives in Manhattan criminal court to attend a pre-trial hearing, 25-3-23. Image: Associated Press / AlamyJean said she gets abused “all the time” online but insists she will keep going because “we have to fight for our beliefs.”
In the long-term, she thinks the attack will have little impact on the angry way many Americans talk about politics and politicians.
“I think it will change the tempo for a minute but I think the opposition will be right back to their dirty tricks, probably within a week or two,” she said.
Polls suggest Mr Trump has a good chance of recapturing the Presidency, with most companies giving him a slight lead over incumbent Joe Biden.
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Main image: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
