Former Attorney General Bill Barr has urged Democrats to cease their "grossly irresponsible" rhetoric about former President Trump being an "existential threat to democracy," calling such accusations "baseless" and harmful.
Former United States Attorney General William Barr has sharply criticized Democrats for their persistent rhetoric depicting former President Donald Trump as an "existential threat to democracy." Barr, who served as Trump's attorney general from February 2019 until his resignation in December 2020, vehemently denounced such accusations as "completely baseless" and "grossly irresponsible."
"The Democrats have to stop their grossly irresponsible talk about Trump being an existential threat to democracy. He is not," Barr emphatically stated during an interview with Fox News.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr Condemns Democrats' Rhetoric on Trump as "Grossly Irresponsible
Barr's comments came just hours after a would-be assassin targeted Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Republicans swiftly linked the attack to the Democrats' inflammatory rhetoric, accusing them of inciting violence against Trump by portraying him as authoritarian and anti-democratic.
Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a potential running mate for Trump, asserted that the attack was not an isolated incident. He lamented that the Biden campaign's central premise cast Trump as an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs, which directly led to the attempted assassination.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr Condemns Democrats' Rhetoric on Trump as "Grossly Irresponsible
President Biden faced scrutiny after remarks he made to donors on July 8th, wherein he declared that "it's time to put Trump in a bullseye," according to Politico. Vice President Kamala Harris similarly stated that she would attend a town hall to discuss "the clear threat the former president represents to our democracy."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) implied that Trump supporters posed a threat to Americans, saying, "They're saying it straight to your face: If you can disagree with Donald Trump, watch your back." Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) echoed this sentiment, vowing that Biden and Democrats would continue to defend democracy against "MAGA Republicans."
Former Attorney General Bill Barr Condemns Democrats' Rhetoric on Trump as "Grossly Irresponsible
Barr vehemently rejected these assertions, arguing that the true threat to democracy lay elsewhere. "The real threat to our democracy comes from the excesses of the progressive left," Barr asserted, citing attempts to erode constitutional rights, suppress free speech, and undermine the rule of law.
Despite his sometimes contentious relationship with Trump, Barr has consistently endorsed him for president. He maintains that the accusations against Trump are politically motivated and unsubstantiated.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr Condemns Democrats' Rhetoric on Trump as "Grossly Irresponsible
"I think the Democrats are trying to make a political argument by saying that Trump is a threat to democracy, but there's no evidence for that," Barr stated. "He is not an authoritarian. He is not a dictator. He believes in the rule of law."
Barr's remarks underscore the highly polarized political climate in the United States, with both sides engaging in heated rhetoric and accusations. Whether Barr's call for moderation will be heeded remains to be seen, but his words serve as a reminder that the health of a democracy depends on respectful discourse and the avoidance of inflammatory speech.
