Nikki Haley to Speak at RNC

In the immediate aftermath of an attempted assassination of the former President of the United States and certain 2024 Republican nominee, some in the press are abandoning calls to “lower the temperature” of the post-shooting rhetoric, and have begun to blame Trump for getting himself shot. Watch ABC’s Martha Raddatz as she does precisely that on ABC This Week: ABC THIS WEEK 7/14/24 9:15 AM MARTHA RADDATZ: Also, George, we have to point out: no matter who the shooter -- what the shooter's motives were, no matter who the shooter is, you are going to hear conspiracy theories going forward. GEORGE STEHANOPOULOS: No question about that. But as you point out, the statements from JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy. Of course, President Trump and his supporters have contributed to this violent rhetoric as well. RADDATZ: We were just looking back at some of the things that former President Trump has said. He warned last March of potential death and destruction if he were charged by the Manhattan District Attorney, “our country is being destroyed as they tell us to be peaceful”. Trump in January warned of bedlam in the county if the criminal charges against him succeeded. And, of course, in March he said “ now, if I don't get elected it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole- that’s going to be the least of it, it's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it.” He said he was partly joking and that that was taken out of context but those are, indeed, his words. And you have heard it from supporters as well and supporters are certainly, in some parts, angry. And let's remember January 6th. In so many ways for the campaign, January 6th will probably be in the background after yesterday's event. This is a very difficult time for this campaign. I'm sure, this week in Milwaukee, that President Trump will highlight this, and President Biden is going to have to figure out how to go forward with his campaign and what exactly they say.  STEPHANOPOULOS: Martha Raddatz, thanks very much. The media rushed into self-preservation and exculpation modes, not heeding calls to tone things down. Stephanopoulos, in his first appearance on This Week since getting in trouble for offhand remarks about the state of the Biden campaign, set Raddatz up by attempting to both-sides the rhetoric leading up to the shooting. In so doing, Stephanopoulos ignores HIS OWN incendiary rhetoric, as exemplified by the screechy editorial he gave citing “the stakes” of this election, which included a callback to the Civil War. Somehow, that didn’t make it into the call for restraint. Which brings us to Raddatz. That entire recitation was disgusting, especially the January 6th reference. But that pales in comparison to the resuscitation of the broadly debunked “Bloodbath Hoax”, which Raddatz herself helped spread at the time along with the rest of the media.  The entirety of the media KNEW that the remarks were made in reference to what might happen to the domestic auto industry in the event of a Biden re-election, but went ahead and screeched “political violence” to the American public. Raddatz knew better THEN, and certainly knew better this morning, but chose to rehash that hoax despite the clear context of Trump’s remarks being a matter of record. Absolutely disgusting. There can and will be no full “cooling down” of the rhetoric until the media acknowledge their own role in building up to the moment wherein a deranged 20-year-old took it upon himself to take matters into his own hands. Scream “threat to democracy” and “American Hitler” enough, and somebody’s going to heed the call.  

The suspect in the attempted assassination Saturday of former President Donald Trump used a gun his father purchased, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing individuals familiar with the investigation.A Secret Service sniper killed 20-year-old suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, officials told CBS News, which added that multiple law enforcement sources said the gunman was armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle and opened fire from a shed's roof outside the cordoned-off rally area.'We do not currently have an identified motive,' Kevin Rojek, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge, said at a briefing late Saturday night, according to CBS News.ABC News, citing multiple law enforcement sources, reported that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted an urgent trace and found the suspect's father legally purchased the gun recovered at the scene. Reuters said Crooks' father — 53-year-old Matthew Crooks — told CNN he was trying to figure out what happened and would wait until he spoke to law enforcement before speaking about his son.Trump survived the shooting but was seen on video bleeding from his ear after which Secret Service whisked him away from the rally stage. Officials said one audience member was killed and two were in critical condition. CBS News, citing police, said the victims were all men, but their names haven't been released.The FBI said Crooks is from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, CBS News noted. Bethel Park is about a half hour south of Pittsburgh and just over an hour south of Butler where the rally took place. The Washington Post reported that authorities by early Sunday had "sealed off the area around the alleged shooter’s home. Local fire department vehicles blocked access for several blocks, allowing only residents and investigators to enter."The Secret Service and FBI are speaking with the suspect's family, the FBI has secured his home, and federal law enforcement is searching it, CBS News said, citing a law enforcement official. CNN, citing multiple law enforcement sources, reported that the suspect had explosive material inside his car and residence.Fox News, citing voting records, reported that Thomas Matthew Crooks was a registered Republican, adding that he only took part in the Nov. 8, 2022, state election due to his age. Reuters — citing a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing — added that Crooks at age 17 made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a "political action committee that raises money for left-leaning and Democratic politicians." The outlet added that the donation was for the Progressive Turnout Project, a national group that rallies Democrats to vote. Reuters reported that the groups didn't immediately respond to request for comment.More from Fox News:Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. He was one of nearly two dozen students from the school to earn a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.An online recording of his graduation ceremony shows him walking the stage to minimal applause and briefly posing with a school official, the New York Times reported.A search by Fox News Digital revealed Crooks would have turned 21 years old this September. He had no reported criminal or traffic citations and no reported bankruptcies, liens or foreclosures."We do not currently have an identified motive," Kevin Rojek, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge, said at a briefing late Saturday night, according to CBS News.A law enforcement official said early Sunday that there are so far no known foreign terrorism ties, the suspect was not on law enforcement's radar, and authorities are still running down his name, CBS News added. The FBI's statement on Crooks also said "this remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'This Is Sick'! ABC's 'This Week' Assigns Blame for the Assassination Attempt on Trump (Just Guess)

Authorities Reportedly Find Explosives in Trump Shooter's Vehicle

What Is the Measure of a Man?

The person who died in a shooting at former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday was identified as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, according to his family's posting on Facebook.

President Joe Biden's reelection campaign is scrambling for a new strategy after an assassination attempt on Republican rival Donald Trump in western Pennsylvania, including deciding to call off attacks on the former president for now.

Donald Trump Jr. told Newsmax he didn't mince words when he first spoke to his father following the failed assassination attempt on the former president in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

AI romantic companions can save some people from loneliness, but they also have a dark side.