Steve Scalise: Focus on policies, not "demonization of Donald Trump"
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise speaks during a House Republican Leadership press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 9. Photo: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is calling for the nation to focus on policies and not the "demonization of Donald Trump" as America figures out how to move forward after the assassination attempt on the former president.
Why it matters: Scalise was shot in 2017 and is using his experience to add nuance to the calls for unity.
The big picture: Scalise made the rounds on Sunday morning TV shows, encouraging Americans, politicians, late-night shows and journalists to tone down rhetoric and "reset everything" in the wake of the shooting that killed a rally attendee and injured Trump and at least two others.
- Scalise told CBS that people should "get back to just talking about those political differences."
- "What are our policies and approaches to improving the economy and improving the lives of people and securing the border and achieving peace in the world? Those should be the front-and-center issues, not the personality of the person that's going to carry that out," he told CBS.
Yes, but: His statement after the shooting had its own name-calling.
- "For weeks Democrat leaders have been fueling ludicrous hysteria that Donald Trump winning re-election would be the end of democracy in America," he tweeted. "Clearly we've seen far left lunatics act on violent rhetoric in the past. This incendiary rhetoric must stop."
Between the lines: Federal officials say the Secret Service killed the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Pennsylvania, after he opened fire. His motives are still not clear.
Zoom in: President Biden's campaign on Saturday said they were temporarily pulling his political ads.
- Several members of Congress told Axios' Andrew Solender they plan to cancel events and close or restrict their campaign and congressional offices in response to the shooting.
- There was no immediate word from Louisiana's delegation about office closures.
What they're saying: Louisiana's other elected leaders released statements after the shooting too.
- Gov. Jeff Landry (R): "It's a dark time in our nation."
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R): "This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country."
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (R): "All violence should be condemned, but particularly political violence which attempts to shape the direction of the country. We do not bow to political terrorists."
- Sen. John Kennedy (R): "Thanking God for protecting Pres. Trump and others tonight."
- Rep. Troy Carter (D): "Violence has no place in political discourse, regardless of our vehement philosophical differences."
- Rep. Garret Graves (R): "Republican or Democrat—this type of violence is always wrong. 🙏🇺🇸"
- Rep. Clay Higgins (R): "American Patriots are united behind President Trump. The left will not stop MAGA Nation."
What's next: Higgins is a member of the House Oversight & Accountability Office, whose members will conduct an investigation into the assassination attempt.
- Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service, has been requested to testify at a public hearing on July 22, Higgins' office said.
Editor's note: The number of injured attendees has been updated.