Mace says rhetoric is ‘inspiring political violence’ after Trump assassination attempt

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on Sunday argued the rhetoric of today’s political landscape is “inspiring” political violence following the assassination attempt against former President Trump, which left one spectator dead and others injured.

“No one should be shot and killed for their political beliefs. No one should be shot and killed because they support Donald Trump for president, and I, quite frankly, am sick and tired of the rhetoric,” Mace said on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.” “I’m a member that receives threats almost every day.”

Mace later went after President Biden, who has sought to paint Trump as a threat to democracy ahead of November’s presidential election. Trump’s GOP allies have pointed to a comment Biden made to donors last week that Trump has to be put “in the bull’s-eye.”

“That poor Joe Biden last night in his speech would not even admit that this was an attempted assassination,” she said.

In an address to the nation shortly after the shooting, Biden condemned the violence and urged others to do the same.

“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this,” he said. “Everybody must condemn it.”

Asked if it was an assassination attempt, Biden said he did not have enough facts to weigh in.

Mace was then asked if she was suggesting Biden inspired the incident.

“Oh absolutely. The rhetoric is inspiring political violence. I see it every day, Leland. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of the threats on my family, on my office, on my staff,” she replied. “I mean, the rhetoric has got to go, and it’s been happening for years, and it’s got to stop now. And it starts with Donald Trump as president.”

Biden, in an address from the White House Sunday, said the FBI is leading the investigation, but that so far, there is no information on the motive available and asked Americans not to jump to conclusions.

“I urge everyone, everyone please don’t make assumptions about his motive or his affiliations. Let the FBI do their job and their partner agencies do their job,” he said.

A shooter opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa., on Saturday evening, wounding the former president, who said a bullet pierced his ear. One spectator was killed, and two other attendees were critically injured, the U.S. Secret Service said.

The FBI later identified the suspect involved as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by authorities at the scene. The FBI has yet to identify a motive for the shooting, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Pittsburgh, said late Saturday.

Biden on Sunday said he has directed an independent review of the security at the rally to “assess exactly what happened.” 

Earlier in the interview, Mace said she believes this week’s Republican National Convention must present a “unifying message.”

“Right now, many of us are angry. We’re reeling from the shocking events last night,” she said. “We should have a unifying tone. I think that’ll happen naturally, that we’ll have a unifying message, not just for the Republican Party, but for a nation who’s going to be hurting and need time to heal in the weeks and months to come.”

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Updated at 3:29 pm.