Bombs have been sent to a dozen top Democrats Trump regularly attacks — but he's whining that it's 'unfortunate' for Republicans.
Trump is now hinting that the attempted assassination of several public figures — all of whom he has viciously and repeatedly attacked — is a fake story and coverage of it is unfair to Republicans.
"Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this 'Bomb' stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics," Trump tweeted. "Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!"
Suspicious packages containing pipe bombs have been sent to multiple public figures who have been targeted by Trump, including President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Maxine Waters, former CIA Director John Brennan, philanthropist and Holocaust survivor George Soros, and others. Almost all of them have been Democrats.
Trump, forever painting himself as a victim, has now characterized a series of attacks on mostly Democratic figures as a slight against him and the Republican Party he leads.
Trump put the word "bomb" in scare quotes, an apparent move to amplify the conspiracy theory suggesting — without any evidence — that the pipe bombs are either fake or a ploy by Democratic sympathizers.
Supporters of Trump's chosen gubernatorial candidate in Florida, former Rep. Ron DeSantis, held up signs saying "Fake News, Fake Bombs" outside a recent debate.
The theory began in the fevered swamps of the right and has been moving toward the mainstream. Now, with his tweet, Trump is signaling his agreement with the conspiracy theory.
Trump is a conspiracy theorist who has promoted outlandish, false ideas for years — most notably the racist birther attack on President Obama.
Trump has mishandled the entire situation from the beginning. When he finally commented in public on the attempted attacks, he refused to name the targets, even though he never hesitates to smear and mock them by name at his campaign rallies.
For Trump, multiple acts of domestic terrorism are not a moment to act like a leader or push for unity. Instead, they are yet another opportunity to cry victimhood and promote another harebrained conspiracy theory.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
