New Hampshire’s political community reacted with outrage and concern to news of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday evening. The shooter killed at least one person in the crowd before he was reportedly shot and killed by law enforcement.
Some of those expressions of concern came from Democrats who, as recently as earlier the same day, were publicly describing Trump as a potential “dictator” and “a continued threat to our country.” It’s part of what Politico is calling a “U-turn on Trump criticism” by Democrats nationwide.
The story was still developing late Saturday night, but the Secret Service released a statement.
“During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. This incident is currently under investigation. And the Secret Service has notified the FBI.”
Trump offered his own account via Truth Social.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
In a statement, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.) said, “Violence of any form has no place in America. Glad to hear that President Trump is doing well and wish him the best in a speedy recovery.”
The candidates running to replace the retiring Sununu also released statements. Democrat Joyce Craig tweeted, “Political violence is unacceptable. I’m hoping President Trump and everyone at his rally is safe.” Her competitor in the primary, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington posted similar sentiments, calling it “a sad day for our country. There is no room for political violence in America.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte said, “Joe and I are thankful to hear that President Trump is safe and this heinous attempt on his life failed.” Chuck Morse retweeted a message from Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas): “They try to jail him. They try to kill him. It will not work. He is indomitable.”
Morse said he agrees, adding: “They will do everything in their power to try and stop President Trump from getting back into the Oval Office, but it won’t work. The American people will not be silenced, and our Republican Party will not stop working until we get President Trump across the finish line this fall.”
In the GOP First Congressional District primary, several candidates called out the extreme anti-Trump rhetoric of Democrats and the media.
“The mainstream media has blood on its hands,” said Manchester Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur. “Trump or bust!”
Businesswoman Hollie Noveletsky said, “Make no mistake, the nonstop attempt to demonize President Trump and paint him as ‘Hitler’ has been irresponsible and contributes to a society where this violence happens. Thankfully, the shooter failed in this attempt. This is a sad day for America.”
Heated rhetoric targeting Trump is commonplace in the media, and in New Hampshire politics.
The leftwing New Republic magazine cover has a portrayal of Trump as Adolf Hitler with the headline “American fascism.”
Here in the Granite State, the weekend edition of the Union Leader features a column by former state Democratic Party chair Kathy Sullivan calling Trump “a continued threat to our country” who “was willing to risk our democracy.”
In the Second Congressional District race to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, former Biden administration member Maggie Goodlander on Thursday used a line commonly heard from Democrats saying, “democracy and freedom are on the ballot” because Trump is a candidate.
After the shooting, Goodlander released a statement claiming, “I believe in our democracy and the rule of law. There is no place for political violence in America.”
New Hampshire House Majority Leader Jason Osborne is unimpressed by the Democrats’ attempt at a rhetorical reversal.
“The shooting tonight at President Trump’s campaign rally is nothing short of an outrage. For years, the left has been peddling false information about President Trump, and as a result, radicalizing their base to despise him to the point of attempted murder,” Osborne said.
“Furthermore, we have witnessed an administration that has weaponized our criminal justice system against their political opponent, President Trump, to delegitimize him in the eyes of public opinion.
“We insist that our colleagues on the other side condemn this shooting and wage campaigns on truth and policy rather than smear and defamation.”
One Granite State Trump supporter isn’t worried about the rhetoric.
“We love Donald Trump,” former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski posted on Twitter. “Strongest SOB ever!”
