Updated Oct 25, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Johnson, McConnell call on Harris to tone down rhetoric

Juliegrace Brufke

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 29: (L-R) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) attend a congressional tribute in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol for retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. on April 29, 2024 in Washington, DC. One of the U.S. Army's most — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attend a tribute in the Capitol rotunda for retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. on April 29, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on Vice President Kamala Harris to tone down her "base and irresponsible" anti-Trump rhetoric, arguing it could invite another assassination attempt against the former president.

Why it matters: In a rare joint statement Friday, Congress' top two Republicans sought to turn the tables on Harris and President Biden, who have painted Trump as responsible for a breakdown in political civility and increased threats against public figures.

Johnson and McConnell alleged that Harris' description of Donald Trump as a "fascist" during Wednesday's CNN town hall "fanned the flames beneath a boiling cauldron of political animus."
The label "risks inviting yet another would-be assassin to try robbing voters of their choice before Election Day," they said.

The other side: "No one should be the subject of violence, much less political violence," Harris told reporters Friday when asked about Johnson and McConnell's statement.

"But the American people deserve to be presented with facts and the truth," she continued.

Driving the news: When asked by CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday whether she believes Trump is a fascist, Harris replied: "Yes, I do."

White House chief of staff John Kelly in interviews earlier this week called the former president a "fascist" and recounted Trump praising Adolf Hitler..

Yes, but: Trump also recently also referred to Harris as a fascist during a Michigan rally.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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Johnson, McConnell call on Harris to tone down rhetoric

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