We live in a polarized political age when rabid partisans don’t need provocation to resort to violence. This makes Donald Trump’s latest verbal assault against Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell all the more reckless. Mr Trump let loose another tirade against the GOP Senate leader on Friday. “Is McConnell approving all of these Trillions of Dollars worth of Democrat sponsored Bills, without even the slightest bit of negotiation, because he hates Donald J. Trump, and he knows I am strongly opposed to them, or is he doing it because he believes in the Fake and Highly Destructive Green New Deal, and is willing to take the Country down with him?” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“In any event, either reason is unacceptable. He has a DEATH WISH. Must immediately seek help and advise from his China loving wife, Coco Chow!” he added.
This continues Mr Trump’s attacks on Elaine Chao, Mr McConnell’s wife, for being Chinese-American. Her real offense was resigning as transportation secretary after Mr Trump’s disgraceful behavior on Jan 6. His feud with Mr McConnell is also personal, as the Kentucky Senator condemned Mr. Trump’s Jan 6 actions and hasn’t spoken to him since.
But the “death wish” rhetoric is ugly even by Mr Trump’s standards and deserves to be condemned. Mr Trump’s apologists claim he merely meant Mr. McConnell has a political death wish, but that isn’t what he wrote. It’s all too easy to imagine some fanatic taking Mr Trump seriously and literally, and attempting to kill Mr McConnell. Many supporters took Mr Trump’s rhetoric about former Vice President Mike Pence all too seriously on Jan. 6.
Maine Senator Susan Collins wasn’t excessive when she said recently that she “wouldn’t be surprised” if a Member of Congress is shot in this hot-house political environment. A left-wing follower of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders opened fire on Republican Members of Congress in 2017 and came close to killing Rep. Steve Scalise.
Five weeks from Election Day, Mr. Trump could be working and spending money to elect a GOP Congress, or to help his home state of Florida recover from Hurricane Ian. Instead he’s attacking Mr McConnell and his wife as part of a personal political vendetta, and putting every Republican candidate on the spot to respond to questions about the Trump rant. Mr. Trump always puts himself first, and with this rhetoric he may put others at genuine risk of harm.
The Wall Street Journal
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