[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3819-S3820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DONALD TRUMP
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I would like to begin with a few words
about Donald Trump's dangerous post last night on Truth Social. What
Donald Trump said, falsely suggesting his political opponents are out
to kill him, is beyond the pale and is the stuff that leads to
political violence. Donald Trump seems to have no consideration for the
sanctity and peacefulness and further functioning of our democracy.
Everyone who was here on January 6 should immediately see what he is
doing--what Donald Trump is doing--using conspiracy theories to spin
the hard right into a frenzy, and it is despicable for Members of
Congress to spread Donald Trump's lies. This is how people get killed,
how the seeds of political violence are sowed, and how people lose
faith in this democracy. Donald Trump has no regard for that. He would
basically rip up parts of our democracy for what he thinks is his own
personal gain.
Let's speak truthfully. What the FBI did was follow standard
practice. They worked with the Secret Service at Mar-a-Lago ahead of
time to coordinate how to carry out a search warrant. Donald Trump
wasn't even in Florida but instead in New Jersey on the day of the
search.
So this idea that his political opponents are out to kill him is
absurd. Every single Member of the House and Senate, Democrat and
Republican, should condemn Donald Trump's outlandish and dangerous
statement. It
[[Page S3820]]
should be the easiest thing they do today.
If words like Donald Trump's are not fiercely condemned, we are only
begging for something far worse to happen to our democracy down the
line. We cannot let this man, Donald Trump, or anybody else throw these
kinds of matches to light flames that could burn our democracy. It is
just horrible. I can't believe that someone would do something like
that.
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