Former First Lady Melania Trump expressed support for her husband on Wednesday, attributing the two assassination attempts to a media environment she argued is complicit in the Democrats’ portrayal of former President Donald Trump as a “threat to democracy” who must be “extinguished.”
The phrase “threat to democracy,” used by Biden Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo earlier this week, and the specific threat from Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to shoot Trump at his Florida golf course on September 15th, are examples of rhetoric Melania Trump believes is fueling increased violence from Trump critics. “It’s interesting how quiet everything became, all of the mainstream media. There were a few days reporting about July 13th event, and everything then became quiet,” she told Fox News’ Ainsley Earhardt.
“I had a lot of questions,” Melania continued. “What’s going on? This is not normal. And, is it really shocking that all this egregious violence goes against my husband? Especially that we hear the leaders from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as a threat to democracy, calling him vile names. They’re only fueling a toxic atmosphere and giving power to all of these people that want to do harm to him. This needs to stop. This needs to stop. The country needs to unite, and I encourage everybody to read my letter on July 14th again, because that cannot continue.”
WATCH:
First Lady Melania Trump: “Is it really shocking that all this egregious violence goes against my husband? Especially when we hear the leaders of the opposition Party and mainstream media branding him as a ‘threat to democracy’ — calling him vile names. They’re only fueling a… pic.twitter.com/lGLsejgb63
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 26, 2024
Following the July 13th attack on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, the former First Lady has been vocal in her calls for unity and a reduction in divisive rhetoric. In a rare public statement, she attributed the inspiration behind the attack to the inflammatory language used by some critics.
“Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now. This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence. We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends,” she wrote the next day. “We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again. I am thinking of you, my fellow Americans. The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide – thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.”
Just five days before the second attempt on Trump’s life, Melania released a video questioning why the FBI and other federal investigators had failed to uncover a motive for the July 13th shooting. “The attempt to end my husband’s life was a horrible, distressing experience. Now, the silence around it feels heavy,” she told X followers in a direct-to-camera video. “I can’t help but wonder, why didn’t law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech? There is definitely more to the story, and we need to uncover the truth.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.