ABC News host George Stephanopoulos, a Democrat who never misses a chance to play defense for his party, threw a fit over the weekend when confronted with the uncomfortable truth that Democrats’ rhetoric might be fueling violent acts. During an interview with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-CA), Stephanopoulos couldn’t handle the suggestion that the Democratic Party’s nonstop smear campaign against Donald Trump might have inspired assassination attempts on the former president. Yeah, because blaming Republicans for everything under the sun is their thing, right?
In the interview, Stephanopoulos had a meltdown when Johnson was asked about recent remarks made by Trump and his son, accusing Democrats of creating a hostile environment that could lead to violence. This wasn’t just an offhand claim either. Let’s not forget the attempted assassination in July when a man shot Trump in the ear—someone who had previously donated to far-left causes. Then, in September, another man with a history of donating to Democrats was arrested for another assassination attempt. But Stephanopoulos acted like these facts were no big deal.
“Is it right for the president and his family to suggest that Democrats are behind the effort to assassinate him?” Stephanopoulos asked, pretending to be the concerned voice of reason.
Johnson, to his credit, didn’t take the bait. “I don’t think they’re saying the Democrat Party tried an assassination attempt,” Johnson responded calmly.
He went on to explain what everyone with common sense already knows: “What they’re alluding to is what we’ve all been saying. They have got to turn the rhetoric down. For years now, the leading Democrats in this country, the highest elected officials and the current nominee for president, have gone out and said that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. That the republic will end if he’s re-elected.” Johnson’s right, of course. When you keep telling people that Trump is the boogeyman, some of the unhinged ones will eventually act on it.
Stephanopoulos, predictably, wasn’t having it. He got even more incensed, probably because Johnson hit too close to the truth. “What they’re referring to is the absolute open attacks that have been engaged by Democrats against President Trump since the day he came down that golden escalator in 2016,” Johnson added. And he’s not wrong. From day one, the Democratic playbook has been to attack Trump from every angle—whether it’s dragging him through the courts or labeling him as a threat to democracy.
And what about Stephanopoulos’ response? Well, let’s just say he wasn’t satisfied. He kept grilling Johnson as if repeating the question would somehow change the facts. Stephanopoulos demanded again to know if Johnson supported the statement made by the Trump family, but Johnson wasn’t about to let him frame the narrative. “George, I’m not going to parse the language of what people say at rallies,” Johnson responded. He wasn’t about to let the conversation be hijacked by a side issue.
Johnson didn’t hold back, reminding Stephanopoulos that Democrats are hardly saints when it comes to dangerous rhetoric. He could’ve easily listed off pages of extreme, inflammatory comments made by Democrats over the years. After all, the very party that screams “dangerous rhetoric” whenever Trump speaks has been fanning the flames of division for years. And now, when the chickens come home to roost, they can’t stand to hear about it.
But Johnson had bigger concerns to focus on, as he pointed out: “We have to talk about the greatest collection of challenges that this country is facing probably since World War II, maybe the Civil War.” Exactly. We’re facing massive problems as a nation, but instead, the media is busy trying to twist words and play “gotcha” games.
Stephanopoulos, however, wasn’t going to let go of his obsession with the Trump remarks. He harped on it for a few more minutes before finally moving on. You’d think that with everything going on in the world, the media would be more focused on real issues, but no, their top priority is making sure every word Trump or his supporters say is picked apart.
It’s just more of the same. Democrats and their pals in the media can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it when the spotlight’s on them. Maybe it’s time they took a hard look at the dangerous rhetoric they’ve been spouting before pointing fingers elsewhere. But don’t hold your breath waiting for that.