Donald Trump took heat on social media Friday evening as he tried to blame his assassination attempt on Democrats for "their rhetoric."
At a Florida rally Friday, the Republican presidential nominee recounted how he nearly lost his life, this time with a new spin.
“I took a bullet for democracy. He didn't,” Trump said, referring to President Joe Biden. “And I might have taken it because of their rhetoric. I might have taken it because of their rhetoric. Who knows?”
Ongoing investigations into the shooting have found that the perpetrator, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was a registered Republican and made searches for high-level Democrats, including Biden, in the days leading up to the attack. Crooks’ motive in the shooting remains unclear.
Read also: Trump warns supporters Democrats 'after the Catholics almost as much as they're after me'
On social media, the response to Trump's comment was immediate.
“Yeah, it’s the heated rhetoric from the Left,” wrote @SundaeDivine along with a photo of a pro-Trump merchandise booth adorned with a Nazi flag.
“He's the king of violent rhetoric,” wrote @A_tothe_Z_Amber.
“The shooter was a White Republican Male it had nothing to do with Democrats,” wrote @AreMond2. “A tiny cut on one’s ear doesn’t rise to “I took a bullet …”
This is the narrative he is trying to regain after Biden "laid on a grenade" for Democracy and dropped out. It's why he's going back to Butler,” wrote @SelfGenPodcast. “To regain that narrative.”
Watch the clip below or at this link.
