By Ben Solis
Staff Writer
Posted: July 18, 2024 1:21 PM

The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally led several Michigan political leaders to urge moving away from political rhetoric that often vilifies opponents and casts elections as cataclysmic events that could lead to national ruin – depending on the winner of the contest.

Michigan Republicans said as much on Monday as they gathered in Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention, just two days after gunfire injured Trump, killed one rallygoer and critically injured two others.

The event was an echo of past American political violence and has the potential to upend an election cycle already full of white-hot rhetoric. It was the most serious assassination attempt on a current or former president since 1981 when an assassin shot and gravely wounded President Ronald Reagan in a deranged attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster.

At a breakfast reception in Madison, Wisconsin, Michigan Republican Party Chair Pete Hoekstra told reporters those involved in politics need to focus on policies and less on the individuals.

"And we need to do it in a constructive way," he said. "There are ways that we can discuss our differences in policies and clarify what it is to help voters make informed decisions. But it doesn't have to be negative against individuals to a point where it may be part of what leads to what we saw on Saturday."

Hoekstra also cautioned those engaging in political discourse to take a proverbial step back, and "when we hear harsh comments … say, 'is this really helpful? Is it necessary?'"

"In a very, very difficult way, we've seen what happens when political discourse moves from discourse to violence. It's scary. This poor family. They lost a dad. They lost a husband. Only 50 years old," Hoekstra said, referring to the death of Corey Comperatore, shot while shielding his family at the Trump rally. "Today they're going to wake up, and there's going to be an empty spot at the breakfast table. It's awful. This kind of all puts it back in perspective. Politics is part of our lives. Family and faith are much more important parts of our lives than politics."

Trump, on his Truth Social account, thanked supporters and even those on the other side of the political aisle for well wishes, adding that he "will fear not, but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness."

"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united, and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined, and not allowing evil to win," Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Governmental Affairs Committee announced Monday that it will conduct a bipartisan investigation and hold a hearing to examine security failures on Saturday that allowed a gunman to get close enough to a former president at a political rally.

The bipartisan effort is being led by Michigan's U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) and Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Peters and Paul announced they are requesting an urgent briefing for members of the committee on the shooting and additional information from U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI. A public hearing will follow, the pair announced.

"There is no place for political violence in our nation, and Saturday's shocking attack should never have been allowed to happen," Peters said in a statement. "Our committee is focused on getting all of the facts about the security failures that allowed the attacker to carry out this heinous act of violence that threatened the life of former President Trump, killed at least one person in the crowd, and injured several others."

President Joe Biden addressed the situation several times over the weekend in statements and in an evening address on live television. Biden also called for the nation to take a step back from violent political rhetoric that has slowly marched Americans toward a dangerous brink.

"We must remember that, while we may disagree, we are NOT enemies. We are neighbors, friends, co-workers, citizens, and, most importantly, we are fellow Americans," Biden said in a follow up statement. "We must stand together. Yesterday's shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania calls on us all to take a step back, to take stock of where we are, and how we go forward."

The president said that he called his predecessor and once again election rival to wish him well and was glad that Trump was not seriously injured.

"I have said it many times that the choice we make in this election will shape the future of America and the world for decades to come. Yes, we have deeply felt and strong disagreements. And the stakes in this election are enormously high," Biden said. "But the path forward – through competing visions and campaigns – should always be resolved peacefully. Not through acts of violence."

Biden also extended condolences to the rally goer who was killed by gunfire on Saturday.

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, also in a statement issued Sunday night, asked all Americans to do their part to improve political discourse.

"The shooting of former President Trump was a disgusting act of violence that caps off an alarming, years-long trend in our politics. There have been incidents we all know: a shooting at a practice for the congressional baseball game, the plot to kidnap and kill me, the storming of the Capitol, and an in-home assault on the former speaker of the House's husband," she said. "Behind all these incidents is rhetoric. We have seen calls to hate, harm or jail political opponents. Violent conspiracies from the seediest corners of the internet have become incorporated into stump speeches. We have lost the plot when it comes to the way we talk to each other and about each other."

Whitmer urged people to "chart a better path for our politics" and to call out "unproductive words designed to tear us apart."

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS REACT TO VIOLENT SATURDAY: Several Republican members of Michigan's congressional delegation shared support for Trump as he recovered from the shooting.

"I hope you will join me in praying for the family of the innocent life lost as well as the families of those critically wounded in this heinous attack," U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland wrote on social media. "We settle our differences through debate and at the ballot box."

U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township at first wrote on social media that "they" had tried to "silence" Trump, then "jail him" and then "tried to kill him." On Monday, he said, , "President Trump courageously asked us to fight and fight we will."

U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain of Bruce Township blamed the shooting on longstanding Democratic criticism of Trump.

"The assassination attempt today is a direct consequence of eight years of radical left demonization and unprecedented vitriol against President Trump," McClain wrote on social media.

She later, like James, began posting Christian Bible verses, called for prayer for the man who was killed at the rally and linked to an authorized GoFundMe account for victims of the shooting.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton said he, too, was praying for Trump's recovery.

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet posted to X the photo of a bloodied Trump pumping his fist in defiance after the shooting with the only text "#47" – as in Trump would be the 47th president if he wins.

U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia) posted on X, "Praying for President Trump and everyone at his rally today."

MICHIGAN DEMS ALSO CALL FOR A COOLING OF RHETORIC: U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) called the violence unacceptable, while praising Biden for his "clarity and ... leadership at this incredibly divisive time."

"As Americans, we have the right and freedom to disagree. But we should not accept violence as a way to resolve our differences," she wrote on social media. "We can – and must do better."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) weighed in on Monday with a statement on the events that unfolded Saturday. She said she remained "stunned and shocked" by the shooting.

"I talk often about the division in this country – the vitriol and hatred scare me, and it attacks the fundamental foundations of our democracy. What happened over the weekend is so disturbing and wrong. We must condemn violence and hatred whenever and wherever we see it, period," Dingell said. "I am grateful former President Trump is safe. I am thankful for the brave law enforcement who stepped in and pray for the innocent father, husband, and firefighter who lost his life simply for participating in democracy at a political rally.

Dingell said she was in Grand Rapids preparing to participate in an annual wreath laying at former President Gerald Ford's tomb, and being with his family reminded her on the importance of "finding common ground – something President Ford and John Dingell did so well in their years of unwavering friendship."

"While they may have disagreed on some policies, they always had each other's back," she added. "We need to find our way back to that place. What we are witnessing in today's political climate just has to stop."

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) said she was "horrified" by the incident and echoed others by saying political violence "has no place in our democracy." U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint Township) wrote that violence was "never the answer" to the nation's political arguments.

Detroit's U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar issued a statement denouncing the violence and wished Trump well, but his Detroit colleague, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, did not.

STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WEIGH IN: A now historic image of captured by a New York Times photographer of Trump rising to his feet and pumping his fist, with blood dripping down his face in the embrace of several Secret Service members, was shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township).

Praying for President Trump and our country. pic.twitter.com/8j2x8GKtki

— Senator Aric Nesbitt (@SenAricNesbitt) July 13, 2024

The photo was accompanied by the words: "Praying for President Trump and our country."

Michigan House Minority Leader Matt Hall also asked his followers on social media to pray for Trump, and said he was grateful for the "prompt action of our brave law enforcement officers and first responders."

House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) echoed his colleagues, denouncing violence as a solution to fulfill political ends.

"Every candidate should be safe to campaign for office and our citizens should know they can support candidates without fearing for their safety at political events," Tate wrote on X.

– JR Ross of WisPolitics.com contributed reporting from Wisconsin