A group of Republican lawmakers have accused US President Joe Biden of inciting the assassination attempt against his presidential race competitor and predecessor Donald Trump. The Republicans have claimed that Biden's campaign rhetoric led to the attack against their leader.
Nearly a dozen lawmakers, as of Sunday, have pointed fingers at Biden and Democrats at large for the shooting that took place on Saturday evening during Trump's rally in the Butler area of Pennsylvania.
Many Republican lawmakers have pointed to a comment from Biden while on a private phone call with donors last week.
On the call, Biden said: "I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump," reported Politico. "I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye," Biden said during the phone call.
The specific reference to "Trump in a bullseye", less than a week before, has led some Republicans to accuse Biden of inciting the attack. "Joe Biden sent the orders," Georgia Republican Rep. Mike Collins posted on X.
In another post, Colling wrote "They attempted to neutralize the threat", in response to a separate graphic featuring the president's comments.
"Notice that after an attempted assassination of President Trump, the same people who wanted him prosecuted for telling his supporters to peacefully march to the Capitol on January 6 are not calling for President Biden’s prosecution after he said it was time to put President Trump in the bullseye after their debate," Collins wrote.
Tennessee Republican, Sen. Marsha Blackburn also referred to Biden's bullseye comment in a social media post.
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"Just days ago, Biden said 'It's time to put Trump in a bullseye'. Today, there was an assassination attempt against President Trump," she wrote on X Saturday evening.
Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee reacted to the bullseye statement by Biden. They asked reporters in a post on social media if they plan to delve into the president's comment to donors.
Rep. Lauren Boebert from Colorado said she believes "much of the rhetoric from the left has escalated to this moment".
"President Trump was literally put in a bullseye after the President of the United States, the sitting President of the United States, called for him to be put in a bullseye," she said.