Trump injured in shooting at rally; one bystander and shooter dead

Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia blamed Biden directly, writing on X: “Joe Biden gave the orders,” citing a quote Biden reportedly made during a call with donors on Monday. According to Politico, which reportedly obtained a recording of the call, Biden said: “I have one job, and that is to defeat Donald Trump. I am absolutely certain I am the best person to do it. So, we are done with the debate, it is time to target Trump.”

Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), who was shot at a congressional baseball practice in 2016, criticized Democratic leaders, writing on X that they had “stoked a ridiculous hysteria that the re-election of Donald Trump would mean the end of democracy in America.”

Scalise continued, “We have seen very clearly in the past that left-wing crazies have responded to violent rhetoric. This inflammatory rhetoric must stop.”

Trump adviser Stephen Miller echoed Scalise’s sentiments, writing on X: “The entire Democratic Party campaign message was the vile and monstrous lie that Trump and the Republicans were trying to end democracy. This mammoth lie, this sinister poison, this horrific hatred and slander must stop. It must stop.”

In the larger right-wing media, the mood tended towards conspiracy theories.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk claimed in a livestream immediately afterwards: “The Democrats wanted this and are upset that it didn’t work.” Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones blamed the “deep state.”