Conservative commentator Scott Jennings faced sharp criticism for his arguments during a heated CNN panel discussion about the role of political rhetoric in the assassination attempts on Donald Trump.
Jennings, a CNN contributor, has been arguing that intense rhetoric from Democrats, not those on both sides of the political divide, is to blame for the attempts on Trump’s life. He has slammed Democrats for portraying the former president as a threat to democracy. (Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election and has laid groundwork to also claim this year’s vote is rigged if he loses.)
On Monday, Jennings argued that messaging underpins Vice President Kamala Harris’ entire campaign.
“I mean, she repeats it herself. ‘Trump will be a dictator on Day 1,’” said Jennings, a former adviser to President George W. Bush. “I mean, this country fights dictators!”
“Didn’t he say that, though?” interrupted a fellow panelist, historian Tim Naftali.
“Those were his words!”…