‘Disqualifying’: Kamala Harris Blasts Trump for Increased ‘Violent Rhetoric’ Towards Liz Cheney

Vice President Kamala Harris condemned what she described as the “increasingly violent rhetoric” used by former President Donald Trump towards former GOP Congressperson Liz Cheney. “It is disqualifying,” she said while reiterating her claim that Trump is “unstable.”

At issue are comments made during an event hosted by Tucker Carlson, in which Trump blasted Cheney as “stupid” and a “war hawk,” but then insulted her, suggesting that she’d behave differently if there were guns “shooting at her.” Referring to Cheney as “a very dumb individual,” he then said:

She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrel shooting at her. Okay. Let’s see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.

Suggesting a scenario in which a political enemy is fired upon has been seen by many as a dangerous level of heated rhetoric, regardless of context. It has caused an early firestorm just days before the presidential election. Cheney did not take the comments lightly, posting her retort on social media: “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.”

After first dismissing comments made by Trump surrogate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Harris addressed the Cheney comments during a press event on an airport tarmac. She said:

Even worse, he has increased his violent rhetoric, Donald Trump has, about political opponents and in great detail, in great detail, suggested rifles should be trained on former Representative Liz Cheney. This must be disqualifying. Anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president. Representative Cheney is a true patriot who has shown extraordinary courage and putting country above party.

Trump is increasingly, however, someone who considers his political opponents the enemy. Is permanently out for revenge and is increasingly unstable and unhinged. His enemies list has grown longer. His rhetoric has grown more extreme, and he is even less focused than before on the needs and the concerns and the challenges facing the American people. I have also thought a lot about what this means in terms of our standing in the world.

As Vice President, I have represented the United States of America around the world. And what I know is that when we walk in those rooms representing the United States of America, we have the earned and self-appointed authority to then talk about the importance of democracy, the importance of rule of law. And as a result, people around the world who are fighting for freedom and opportunity holds us up as a model. America deserves better than what Donald Trump is offering. America deserves a president who understands our role and responsibility to our people and to the rest of the world should be a model. So I’ll end with this. Voters are making their decisions.

After taking a question about whether she had spoken to Cheney since Trump’s comments were made, Harris added:

So I have not talked to her and said this comment was made. But I will tell you, I know Liz Cheney well enough to know that she is tough, she is incredibly courageous and has shown herself to be a true patriot at a very difficult time in our country. Where, to your point, we see this kind of rhetoric that is violent in nature, where we see this kind of spirit coming from Donald Trump that is so laden with the desire for revenge and retribution. And Liz Cheney Cheney is a tough person. She is an incredible American. And I have an incredible amount of respect for her. I think that Liz Cheney is courageous and that we will always make sure that we are all fighting against and speaking out against any form of political violence.

Since the media firestorm emerged over these comments, Trump addressed them in a rare softening of his rhetoric in a social media post that read:

All I’m saying about Liz Cheney is that she is a War Hawk, and a dumb one at that, but she wouldn’t have “the guts” to fight herself. It’s easy for her to talk, sitting far from where the death scenes take place, but put a gun in her hand, and let her go fight, and she’ll say, “No thanks!” Her father decimated the Middle East, and other places, and got rich by doing so. He’s caused plenty of DEATH, and probably never even gave it a thought. That’s not what we want running our Country!

Watch above via CNN.