Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) condemned both political violence and “extremist rhetoric” after the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Sanders said political violence was “un-American.”
“I think everyone in this country, regardless of political views, wishes former President Trump a speedy recovery. And we mourn the innocent lives lost and those injured, and we understand that we cannot tolerate any form of political violence. It’s un-American,” Sanders said. “And we have to end it. I think it’s time for all of us in this tragic moment to take a deep breath and remember what this is about, and what a political movement is. And a political movement is about having serious, serious discussions about how we address the serious issues facing this country. So if there’s any silver lining to this tragedy, let’s use this moment to think about how we can move forward peacefully, constructively, and intelligently.”
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Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in support of Jamaal Bowman at St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx, New York City, on June 22, 2024. (Stephen Ferdman/GC Images)
Sanders also condemned “extremist rhetoric,” but did not specify what that meant. Republicans have criticized Democrats’ past rhetoric and cast Trump as an existential threat to democracy after a shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in which a bullet grazed Trump’s ear before Secret Service agents escorted him off the stage. One rally attendee was killed and two men were seriously injured, authorities said.
The Secret Service shot and killed the would-be assassin who allegedly fired shots from a rooftop about 130 yards from the rally.
Former President Trump is assisted by Secret Service agents after shots rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
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“At the end of the day, what we need as a nation, democracy, is not extreme rhetoric,” Sanders told host Kristen Welker. “It’s about a serious debate about where we are as a nation and how do we move forward. In some ways, Kristen, politics should be boring. Our health care system is broken. How do we fix that? Well, it’s a boring debate, but we need a health care system that guarantees health care for all. We have huge income and wealth inequality. Well, it may be a boring debate. Should three people own more wealth than the bottom half of American society? So I think what we need to see is serious debate about serious issues, not the harsh rhetoric that we’ve heard for the last few years.”
Former President Trump following the assassination attempt at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
Sanders also reiterated his support for Biden for the Democratic nomination, despite his series of gaffes last week and his disastrous performance in the debate with Trump.
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“President Biden is the strongest candidate the Democratic Party has,” Sanders said. “I think he has a very effective track record on the campaign trail. We’re finally lowering the cost of prescription drugs. We’re rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. We’re finally beginning to address the existential threat of climate change. We’re doing our best to protect women’s right to control their own bodies. That’s a strong track record.”
