The Political Rhetoric Fueling Violence: A Double Standard?

While Jesse Watters highlights security failures at a Trump rally, Bill Maher and Bret Stephens debate the consequences of hostile rhetoric against the former president.

Despite the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, no one has been held accountable for the security failures at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally. This has sparked a discussion on the role of political rhetoric in inciting violence.

"Real Time" host Bill Maher acknowledged that Trump's assertion about the hostile rhetoric he faces is valid. However, he emphasized that Trump's own divisive language makes him an unsuitable advocate for this argument.

The Political Rhetoric Fueling Violence: A Double Standard?

"He says 'Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.' And then, of course, in true Trumpian fashion, always the most unself-aware person in the universe, goes on to say 'when they're the ones that are destroying the country,'" Maher said.

New York Times columnist Bret Stephens echoed Maher's sentiments, calling Trump's argument "pot calling the kettle black." He further argued that the left's rhetoric labeling Trump as the "end of democracy" undermines their case.

The Political Rhetoric Fueling Violence: A Double Standard?

Maher disagreed, asserting that the left has a responsibility to speak the truth, even if it involves criticizing Trump as a threat to democracy. "The answer can't be that we can't say what's true. I want to say what's true, and the left has to do that too," he told Stephens.

Stephens maintained that such rhetoric is ineffective, arguing that Trump benefits from being portrayed as an outsider. "You have to say the case against Trump is that he's gonna be a terrible president who's gonna divide the country, that is gonna accomplish absolutely nothing, that is gonna embarrass us in front of the world and is gonna conduct a miserable foreign policy, but those are policy questions," he said.

The Political Rhetoric Fueling Violence: A Double Standard?

Maher countered that Trump's refusal to concede elections and his divisive rhetoric transcend policy issues. "He's a bad president because he doesn't concede elections, not the policy s---. That comes and goes!" he exclaimed.

Stephens argued that labeling Trump as beyond the pale has only strengthened his appeal among his supporters. "We have done nothing but help Trump for the last eight years," he said.

The Political Rhetoric Fueling Violence: A Double Standard?

Maher disputed this, highlighting a false equivalency between conservative and liberal rhetoric. "Each article should have at least 10 paragraphs."