Psaki Comments Following Rally Shooting
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki has called on the Republican National Committee to revise its planned programming for the upcoming convention in light of the recent failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. During her appearance on “Meet the Press” Sunday, Psaki expressed her fear in the aftermath of the attempt and echoed the need to reduce divisive political rhetoric.
With the Republican National Convention set to begin on Monday, Psaki urged the party to adjust their scheduled speakers and programming to lower the tension and “restore civility.” She emphasized that although calls among Democrats for President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race have paused, the convention’s current setup could reignite the conversation.
“The convention is starting and unless the programming changes, the rhetoric and how the programming is set up is not actually calming the tone or restoring civility,” Psaki said. “We’ll see if that programming changes, but if it stays the same, that is escalating it. It is not a civil approach to a convention.”
Despite the recent events, the Republican National Convention will proceed with heightened security. Trump, who will be formally nominated as the GOP’s 2024 candidate, reassured supporters with a post on Truth Social, saying, “I truly love our country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
Psaki, now hosting an MSNBC show, warned against using the current situation to promote political agendas or platforms, stating that doing so could feed into the danger and potentially inspire retaliation.
“For anyone out there who has a platform who thinks the moment right now is to be political and attack the other party — you are feeding into the danger. You are making it more likely there’s retaliation,” she said. “I’m incredibly scared. I’m scared for journalists. I’m scared for people who have public platforms of all parties.”
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from western Pennsylvania, was killed by law enforcement after shooting at Trump from a rooftop about 130 yards away. Crooks’ actions resulted in the death of one rally attendee and critical injuries to two others.
Despite the blood on his ear and face, Trump waved defiantly to his supporters as he was rushed off stage by the Secret Service, shouting, “Fight!”
Records show that Crooks, a registered Republican, participated only in the Nov. 8, 2022, state election and had made a $15 donation to the Progressive Turnout Project, a political action committee supporting Democratic candidates.