The peril of dehumanizing rhetoric
While the left is politely voicing shock about last night’s attempted assassination, their rhetoric for the past ten years has inevitably encouraged the crazies.
Kevin Finn | April 26, 2026
Prominent voices on the left have been branding their opponents as Nazis, “literally Hitler,” pedophiles, or “a threat to democracy.” This inflammatory language dehumanizes entire groups, paints targets on people’s backs, erodes civil discourse, and creates a climate where violence is viewed as justifiable.
When rhetoric escalates to open calls for harm, the consequences are deadly: attempted assassinations of President Trump, the 2017 shooting of Republican congressmen at baseball practice, the murder of Charlie Kirk, and assaults on pro-life activists. Leftists are normalizing the violence against Republicans.
President Trump attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton last evening—the same venue where Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt decades earlier. A lone gunman from California (where else?) charged a security checkpoint just 50 yards from the ballroom, armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. Secret Service agents swiftly evacuated Trump, Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, and other officials. One officer was shot but saved by a bulletproof vest.
The suspect was apprehended unharmed and now faces multiple federal felonies, including assault with a dangerous weapon. Trump later described him as a “lone wolf whack job” and “thug that attacked our Constitution,” while praising law enforcement: “I just spoke with the officer, and he is doing great... We told him that we love him and respect him.” The dinner was canceled and will be rescheduled.
In response to what could have been a national tragedy, Trump urged national unity. “I ask that all Americans commit with their hearts to resolving our differences peacefully,” he said, adding that being president “is a very dangerous profession” but that he chooses to focus on making the country great. This marked at least the third known attempt on his life since 2024. Yet within minutes of the gunfire, CNN anchor Laura Coates pivoted to blaming “gun violence,” ignoring the political context.
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https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/the_peril_of_dehumanizing_rhetoric.html
