October 25, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris has come under fire from Republican congressional leaders after referring to former President Donald Trump as a “fascist” during a recent CNN town hall. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — said in a joint statement on Friday that Harris’s statements are “dangerous rhetoric” and she needs to “stop escalating the threat environment” ahead of Election Day.
Harris’ Remarks at CNN Town Hall
In Harris’ town hall speech with Anderson Cooper, Harris came out and said that she agrees with retired Gen. Mark Milley’s description of Trump as “fascist to the core,” referring to Milley’s character in Bob Woodward’s new book. Cooper noted Harris’s previous citations of Milley’s comments, and Harris confirmed her stance, adding new concerns raised in interviews with Trump’s former Chief of Staff John Kelly. In an interview this past week, Kelly accused Trump of being fascist in his opinion and said Trump once praised Hitler, a claim he has denied.
Republican Leaders’ Joint Statement
Johnson and McConnell complained about Harris’s words in their joint statement as they point to two recent assassinations of Trump. The Vice President’s speech would only add to an already high-level threat landscape, they said. “Labeling a political opponent as a ‘fascist’ risks inviting yet another would-be assassin to try robbing voters of their choice before Election Day,” they warned.
“Vice President Harris may want the American people to entrust her with the sacred duty of executive authority. But first, she must abandon the base and irresponsible rhetoric that endangers both American lives and institutions.”
Heightened Security Concerns
Johnson and McConnell highlighted persistent threats against Trump and stated they had been briefed on the risks posed by foreign adversaries and domestic extremists alike. They urged Harris to help ensure Trump has the resources necessary for adequate protection, cautioning that her “reckless invocations” could be a contributing factor to potential incidents of political violence. “This summer, after the first attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in more than a century, President Biden insisted that ‘we cannot allow this violence to be normalized.’ In September, after President Trump escaped yet another close call, Vice President Harris acknowledged that ‘we all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,'” Johnson and McConnell noted, referencing Harris’s previous statements calling for civility.
Silence from Harris’ Campaign
Harris Campaign was not responding to calls seeking comment on Johnson and McConnell’s statement as of Friday night. But campaign surrogates have continued to point to the recent news accounts of Trump’s words and behavior in the context of their wider analysis of his character and governance.
The GOP leaders’ statement finished by reminding everyone of what Harris’s comments might mean, and how we need to stay civil in these hot final days before the election.
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