McConnell, Johnson Say Harris’s Words Risk Triggering Another Assassination Attempt on Trump

‘Labeling a political opponent as a ‘fascist,’ risks inviting yet another would-be assassin,’ they say.

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) on their way to a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 29, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Republican leaders are sounding the alarm after Vice President Kamala Harris said she believed former President Donald Trump was a fascist. After already two assassination attempts, their concern is that the vice president’s words could inspire even more bids to end Trump’s life.

Harris said at a media event on Wednesday that she thought her rival was a fascist after Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, said in media interviews published the day before that described the former president as a fascist who wants generals “like Hitler’s” who are loyal to him.