Democratic Rhetoric and Desensitization Are Fueling Political Violence Against Trump and Conservatives
Source: Brianna Lyman. "Another Victim Of Butler Assassination Attempt Dies." September 25, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Democrats are increasingly using violent rhetoric and normalizing violence against Trump and conservatives, which she says is why political violence against conservatives keeps happening. She points to polls showing some Democrats would be happy if Trump were killed, a streamer mocking a conservative's assassination, and politicians who've made violent statements yet still won or ran for office.
Conclusion
Democrats' increasingly violent rhetoric and desensitization to political violence against Trump and conservatives has created a culture that enables and encourages real-world violence, including assassination attempts.
Premises
- A third victim of the Butler assassination attempt on Trump, James Copenhaver, has died from his wounds, following the earlier death of Corey Comperatore.
- A poll found that roughly one-third of Democrats would feel positively if Trump were assassinated at a rally.
- Leftist commentator Hasan Piker mocked the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
- Public mockery or indifference toward political violence against conservatives normalizes such violence and reinforces the idea that it is not serious.
- A Democratic candidate for Ohio attorney general campaigned on rhetoric about killing Trump.
- Jay Jones was elected Virginia's attorney general despite revelations he fantasized about murdering Republican colleagues and their children.
- These examples show that a culture rewarding violent rhetoric and desensitization emboldens Democrats to openly express or act on violent intentions toward political opponents.
Assumptions
- Public reactions to hypothetical or actual violence (polls, mockery) directly cause or meaningfully contribute to future violent acts, rather than merely reflecting existing polarization.
- The behaviors and statements cited (poll responses, one streamer's mockery, isolated candidate rhetoric) are representative of Democrats or the political left as a whole, rather than being fringe or unrepresentative examples.
- There is a meaningful causal link between rhetoric/desensitization and actual assassination attempts, rather than these being separate phenomena.
- Conservative rhetoric and reactions to violence against Democratic figures are not similarly inflammatory or worthy of scrutiny (an implicit asymmetry).
- Electoral success of candidates like Jay Jones despite controversial statements reflects broad approval of violent rhetoric rather than other electoral factors (party loyalty, specific policy positions, opponent weaknesses, etc.).