Analysis: How GOP Blames Democrats After Assassination Plot Against Trump

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the April 28 episode of the Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.

Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.

After a heavily armed man attempted to breach security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 27, allegedly to assassinate Donald Trump or others in his orbit, Trump and Republicans immediately blamed Democratic rhetoric for the incident. Unsurprisingly, Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, was more vocal than most in pushing this narrative. Some media figures did echo these claims, but this moment should force the media to confront fundamental truths about political violence and rhetoric.

Each side uses incendiary language, but only one party consistently portrays the other as extreme and dangerous. Only one party is fundamentally hostile to liberal democracy and the free press. Democrats must make this distinction clear.

Joining me to discuss this is Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, who has long analyzed the media’s struggle to fairly cover this reality. Matt, welcome back.

Context of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Matt Gertz: Good to be back.

Sargent: As of this recording, Cole Thomas Allen of California has been charged with plotting to assassinate Trump during the dinner. This raises questions about the event itself—a gathering of political and media elites. Given Trump’s attacks on liberal democracy and the press, how should the media approach events like this?

Gertz: Typically, the president of the United States is invited to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The president and administration officials attend, and the president usually delivers a speech blending humor with a nod to the importance of press freedom and the First Amendment. However, Donald Trump is an exception. He does not believe in press freedom and cannot credibly praise the First Amendment. Inviting him to such an event should be unthinkable, yet it continues to happen.

Republicans Blame Democrats for Political Violence

Sargent: That’s undeniable. Now, let’s examine what Republicans are saying. They’re claiming Democrats are responsible for the alleged assassination attempt. Here’s Karoline Leavitt:

"Nobody in recent years has faced more bullets and more violence than President Trump. This political violence stems from a systemic demonization of him and his supporters by commentators, yes, by elected members of the Democrat Party and even some in the media. This hateful and constant and violent rhetoric directed at President Trump day after day after day—"

Sargent: Leavitt’s remarks reflect a broader Republican strategy to shift blame for political violence onto Democrats, despite Trump’s history of violent rhetoric and attacks on democratic norms.

Media’s Role in Covering Political Rhetoric

This incident underscores a critical imbalance. While both sides use heated language, only one party consistently undermines democratic institutions and the free press. The media must recognize this distinction to report accurately on political violence and its origins.