'Irresponsible': MAGA lawyer hammered for saying attempted shooter was motivated by Harris
A Donald Trump-supporting lawyer was slammed on social media this weekend after claiming the man who attempted to assassinate Trump was "directly motivated" by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Clay Travis, an attorney and analyst who is frequently featured on Fox News, took to social media on Sunday to blame Harris for a man earlier in the day hiding in the bushes at Trump's golf course with an AK-47. While the suspect reportedly didn't fire any shots, authorities say the Secret Service fired at him, and eventually detained him.
On X, Travis highlighted a post on social media in which the suspect, reportedly identified as Ryan Routh, stated that "DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose."
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"The man who tried to kill Trump today Tweeted democracy was on the ballot and we can’t afford to fail," Travis wrote Sunday. "Then he tried to kill Trump. He was directly motivated by the claims of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to kill Trump."
Former Tea Party lawmaker turned independent, anti-MAGA critic Joe Walsh said it was a "typically irresponsible thing" for Travis to post on X.
"But u don’t care about that. Any potential assassination attempt on any presidential candidate is horrible. And btw, Donald Trump tried to overthrow an American election. He IS a direct threat to democracy. Democracy IS on the ballot," Walsh wrote in response.
National security attorney Bradley Moss pointed out that Routh had voted for Trump in 2016.
"He was a former Trump voter and recent Vivek fan. Mentally unwell with a criminal history," Moss said in response. "Better question is how he managed to purchase a firearm and why golf course security was so lax."
Former Republican C.J. Phillips also pointed out that Routh had supported Republicans. He replied with, "And wanted a Republican ticket of Haley/Vivek to further democracy. Seems important."
Film producer Stuart Hazeldine also chimed in:
"He has variously supported Trump, Bernie, Tulsi and Vivek. He is confused and ill. You are deeply unserious and irresponsible."