Trump is blaming Harris and Biden for his assassination attempts — and fundraising off it
Trump sent out a fundraising email just hours after the apparent assassination attempt.
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign sent off a fundraising blast hours after an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf course — one that would be the second attempt on his life in two months.
In the email, Trump insisted that he would “NEVER SURRENDER.” The email linked to a WinRed donation page that suggested donations of $24 to $3,300, with the option to contribute a custom amount.
When speaking to Fox News Digital about the attempt early Monday morning, Trump invoked his political opponents and alleged the shooting suspect was motivated by their comments.
“He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris and he acted on it,” Trump said of Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old suspect. “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country.”
Authorities have not disclosed information about the suspect’s possible motive.
Media outlets, including the Associated Press, reported that Routh had posted on social media that he was a former Trump voter and had shared support for a variety of politicians, including Bernie Sanders, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.
The AP reported that Routh posted in April supporting Biden and wrote: “DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose.”
On Monday afternoon, the Trump team sent out another email blast related to the apparent assassination attempt with the subject line, “Another attempt on Trump’s life.” It hammered home a similar message.
“What we are seeing from Kamala Harris and her enablers in the media is disgusting,” the email says in italicized red font. This time, JD Vance signed the message.
It’s not the first time Team Trump has pointed the finger at Democrats for attacks on his life — and asked for donations in the aftermath.
When a would-be assassin attacked Trump in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the former president again blamed Democrats.
“When this happened, people ask, whose fault is it?” he said in an interview with Dr. Phil shortly after the incident. “I think to a certain extent it’s Biden’s fault and Harris’ fault.”
In that assassination attempt, a Secret Service counter-sniper shot and killed the gunman who shot Trump. Authorities have not released a motive in that shooting either, and details about the gunman’s identity remain sparse months later.
In his first fundraising email after the July assassination attempt, the former president also said that he would “NEVER SURRENDER” and linked to a WinRed page.
Trump raised $137 million in July and the first assassination attempt may have contributed to the impressive total, the Associated Press reported.
When asked about the former president’s statements to Fox on Monday and fundraising details, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung directed B-17 to a Truth Social post.
“Because of the Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying,” Trump wrote in a lengthy paragraph. He said that Harris “exemplified” the “Rhetoric, Lies” during their debate.
Trump also used his felony convictions to rake in cash from donors.
After a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records, Trump sold merch and raised almost $53 million within 24 hours of the conviction.
The question of blame is also putting renewed scrutiny on the Secret Service, with some of Trump’s allies calling for answers and increased security for the former president.
On Sunday, an agent spotted the suspected gunman when Trump was between 300 and 500 yards away, according to authorities and a criminal complaint.
The agent opened fire at the suspect, who then fled the scene and was later taken into custody. The suspect has been charged with two firearm counts as of early Monday afternoon.
The GOP-led House has been investigating the agency’s response to the first assassination attempt. After the first gunman wounded Trump’s ear in July, the agency’s director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned.
