‘The Gunman And The Would-Be Dictator’: The Atlantic Says Trump ‘Had It Coming’ Less Than 24 Hours After Assassination Attempt

Less than 24 hours after a failed assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump — which left one bystander dead and three others, including Trump, injured — The Atlantic’s David Frum blamed the violence on the former president and his supporters.

“The Gunman and the Would-Be Dictator,” blared the headline, and on the off-chance anyone missed the intended tone of the piece, a subhead followed: “Violence stalks the president who has rejoiced in violence to others.”

Frum’s premise was that Trump was a fascist and because “fascism feasts on violence,” the former president was simply getting a taste of that which he had fostered.

Addressing the attack on Trump, which took place on Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally, as “a horror and an outrage,” Frum went on to invoke history to quickly forget the name of the man who would commit such a despicable act. But first he blamed the victim, writing,”Now the bloodshed that Trump has done so much to incite against others has touched him as well.”

“Trump and his supporters envision a new place for violence as their defining political message in the 2024 election,” the political commentator continued, returning to his original premise. “Fascist movements are secular religions. Like all religions, they offer martyrs as their proof of truth. The Mussolini movement in Italy built imposing monuments to its fallen comrades. The Trump movement now improves on that: The leader himself will be the martyr in chief, his own blood the basis for his bid for power and vengeance.”

Frum ventured further in the same vein, ultimately concluding that “the gunman and Trump, at their opposite ends of a bullet’s trajectory, are nonetheless joined together as common enemies of law and democracy.”

Critics were not impressed with Frum’s take — and even less impressed with his timing — as they responded via X.

“David Frum needs help. In every way,” Joe Concha commented.

David Frum needs help. In every way. https://t.co/iwLuEfvth0

— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) July 14, 2024

“They are still trying to get Trump killed,” The Blaze’s Auron McIntyre added.

They are still trying to get Trump killed https://t.co/xMZNwsYrp2

— Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) July 14, 2024

“Former Bush 43 political appointees with Trump derangement are some of the most pathetic, delusional, and self-righteous people in politics. Blaming Trump and his family for his near assassination? @davidfrum definitely wins the trophy with this one. Truly a douche bag,” Mike Davis posted.

Former Bush 43 political appointees with Trump derangement are some of the most pathetic, delusional, and self-righteous people in politics.

Blaming Trump and his family for his near assassination?@davidfrum definitely wins the trophy with this one.

Truly a douche bag. pic.twitter.com/f8kCb1h6v6

— ???????? Mike Davis ???????? (@mrddmia) July 14, 2024

The Daily Wire’s Megan Basham added, “You literally just published an essay saying Trump had it coming less than 24 hours after an assassin missed taking Trump’s life by millimeters. People are disgusted by what you wrote in @TheAtlantic because it was disgusting. You are not the victim here. Sit down.”

You literally just published an essay saying Trump had it coming less than 24 hours after an assassin missed taking Trump’s life by millimeters. People are disgusted by what you wrote in @TheAtlantic because it was disgusting. You are not the victim here. Sit down. https://t.co/FfwcOd6p3q

— Megan Basham (@megbasham) July 15, 2024