Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back on ABC host George Stephanopoulos on Sunday while being grilled over Eric Trump blaming Democrats for the multiple assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump.
Since July 13, Trump has faced two assassination attempts, resulting in one shooter being killed on site and the other being arrested. On ABCâs âThis Week,â Stephanopoulos pressed Johnson to comment on Eric Trumpâs remarks that the host claimed placed blame on Democrats for the near-assassinations, asking if itâs ârightâ to do so after Johnson called for both sides to tone down the ârhetoric.â
âI just saw the clip. I was at an event in Texas last night, so I didnât watch all the remarks from Pennsylvania ⌠I donât know the context,â Johnson said. âThe clip that I just heard, that you just played there, George. I donât think theyâre saying that the Democratic Party tried an assassination attempt. I think what theyâre alluding to is what weâve all been saying.â
âThey have got to turn the rhetoric down. For years now, the leading Democrats in this country, the highest elected officials and the current nominee for president, have gone out and said that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy that the Republic will end if heâs re-elected,â Johnson said. âItâs absolute nonsense, and they have incited dangerous people to do dangerous things. The rhetoric has, I think that is a fact, thatâs objective that everybody can agree to. We do need to turn the volume down. We have to have vigorous debates about policy, but not take it to that level. No one involved in this is a threat to the Republic.â
Stephanopoulos continued to ask if Johnson supported Eric Trumpâs statements, but the House Speaker repeatedly said he didnât âknow the contextâ of the clip. Johnsonâs defense of Eric Trumpâs character then prompted the ABC host to exclaim, âYou just saw it, sir!â in reference to the clip shown prior.
âI saw your clip of it, George. I didnât see the full speech. We need to all look at these things in full context. What theyâre referring to, though, is the absolute open attacks that have been engaged by Democrats against President Trump since the day he came down that golden escalator in 2016 ⌠They have attacked him in every single way ⌠People have had enough of this,â Johnson said.
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âWe need everybody on all sides to turn the rhetoric down, and letâs have a debate about the records of these candidates, not the rhetoric. Letâs talk about the policies, not the personalities. Thatâs what the American people demand to deserve. These are serious issues the country is facing,â Johnson added. âWe need to be talking about the ideas and the answers and the solutions to get out of them, and not all this other stuff.â
Stephanopoulos carried on with pressing Johnson on Eric Trumpâs statements, asking what âmore contextâ the House Speaker needed. Johnson, however, stood firm, trying to shift the focus to votersâ top concerns about the economy and immigration.
âSo itâs very clear youâre not going to condemn the basic suggestion the Democrats are behind the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, I want to ask you another question,â Stephanopoulos said.
Johnson attempted to jump in and defend his stance once more, but Stephanopoulos pushed through, stating he would be moving on from the question.
âWell, you have the opportunity to condemn it if you want, you have that opportunity but we can move on,â Stephanopoulos concluded.
Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, for his first rally since the assassination attempt in which a bullet grazed his ear. The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots at Trump and his supporters in July, killing former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore. A memorial spot for Comperatore was held at the second rally within the stands over the weekend.
Featured Image:Â Screenshot/ABC News/âThis Weekâ
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