Democrats are divided over whether members of their party should continue using incendiary rhetoric painting Republicans as an existential enemy following the political assassination of Turning USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Prominent Democrats have repeatedly labeled GOP lawmakers and President Donald Trump “fascists” and “Nazis” despite objections from Republicans who argue such inflammatory rhetoric incites violence. Though the president’s most vocal critics have pledged to continue using violent rhetoric, some Democratic lawmakers are acknowledging that the party’s anti-GOP messaging has gone too far and must stop encouraging violent action.
“The truth is, we need to be pulling back some of our colleagues who are acting in those ways,” Democratic Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a brief interview. “Some of the statements that I’m hearing are completely crazy, full of hate, and a lot of times it goes unchecked.”
Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, also dismissed claims from some in his party who have compared Trump and GOP lawmakers to Nazi Germany.
“Let’s be clear: Republicans are not Nazis,” Durbin said Tuesday while also stating that “Democrats are not evil.”
However, not all Democrats are in agreement that the party should tone down their rhetoric following Kirk’s slaying.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a rumored 2028 presidential candidate who frequently argues that Trump is plotting to destroy American democracy, dismissed concerns that his extreme rhetoric is inciting individuals to take up violence against Republicans.
“We are in a fight right now to save our democracy. That’s true,” Murphy told reporters on Monday. “I spent my entire career trying to push back against the growing trends of violence in this country, but I do believe that within the traditional bounds of politics, we have to act urgently right now to stand up against an attempt to try to destroy our democracy.”
Murphy said Democrats were at war against Republicans just days before Kirk was assassinated in an interview with “Sunday Night with Chuck Todd” that aired on Sept. 7.
“Our only opportunity, our only chance to save our democracy is to fight fire with fire right now,” Murphy told Todd. “We’re in a war right now to save this country. And so you have to be willing to do whatever is necessary in order to save the country.”
Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett has also refused to stop comparing Trump to Nazi Germany in the aftermath of Kirk’s slaying. The Democratic firebrand said calling Trump a “wannabe Hitler” is “not necessarily saying ‘go out and hurt somebody,’” during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club” on Friday.
“We all need to watch our rhetoric,” Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna told the DCNF. “I’m trying never to use inflammatory language. I’m trying to be precise in what I say and to figure out how we can find common ground in this country.”
“We have a challenge in this country with the coarsening of political rhetoric,” Khanna continued while arguing that the problem was not exclusive to the left.
Khanna’s colleague, Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, did not directly answer the DCNF’s inquiry about whether Democrats should stop using incendiary rhetoric, but told the DCNF that every lawmaker must condemn political violence.
“I think we have to speak in a clear voice [to condemn political violence],” Warnock said on Monday. “You cannot have a democracy awash in political violence.”
While some Democrats are committing to lower the temperature, their willingness to rein in their colleagues may have its limits.
Democratic California Rep. Pete Aguilar, the third-ranking House Democrat, went out of his way to express his disapproval of his colleague, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s actions following Kirk’s slaying during a press conference Tuesday. The “Squad” member reposted a video celebrating Kirk’s death, which labeled the conservative activist a “terrorist” and a “reprehensible human being.”
Aguilar did not name Omar or engage with the substance of what the “Squad” member posted when he said, “I disagree with the retweet of one of our colleagues.”
Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace is expected to force a vote as early as this week censuring Omar and stripping the Minnesota Democrat of her committee assignments for reposting the video.
Other Democrats refused to comment on whether their party must tone down their rhetoric post-Charlie Kirk assassination.
Democratic Reps. Sarah McBride of Delaware and Yvette Clarke and Gregory Meeks of New York declined the DCNF’s request for a brief interview.
More than six in ten Americans believe lawmakers’ incendiary rhetoric is spurring individuals to violence, a Reuters-Ipsos poll released Tuesday found.
“Leaders cannot call their political opponents nazis and fascists and enemies of the state because they disagree with their policy priorities,” Speaker Mike Johnson said during a House GOP leadership press conference on Tuesday. “This type of language spurs on depraved people, deranged people who take that as a cue. And this tragic phenomenon played out this week in Utah.”
“We have to walk in the dignity of our offices, as I say all the time,” Johnson continued.
Caden Olson and Andi Shae Napier contributed to this report.
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