Q&A: Assassination Attempt Calls for Answers and Civility

Q&A: Assassination Attempt Calls for Answers and Civility

With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q: What are your thoughts about the assassination attempt on former President Trump's life?

A: Like many Americans, I was watching former President Trump's political rally in Pennsylvania on television in real time. Grassroots participation in our electoral process is central to our system of self-government, and the former president draws massive crowds to his rallies. But in an instant, Trump's political rally turned deadly. No one watching on TV or attending the rally on July 13 would have imagined a troubled 20-year-old assailant would open fire on the 45th president of the United States. At first, it wasn't clear to me what happened when the former president suddenly dropped behind the podium. As his courageous security detail quickly formed a human shield around him, I realized his life hung in the balance. It was surreal to watch the former president rise to his feet with blood dripping down his face, as Secret Service agents urgently shuffled him to the motorcade.

The moment took me back to March 1981, when I was just three months into my first term in the U.S. Senate. That's when President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt, undergoing surgery and spending 12 days in the hospital. Whereas 43 years ago it was a dreary day in Washington, D.C. when a would-be assassin took shots at a sitting president, the assailant in Butler, Pennsylvania perched atop a roof under sunny blue skies before taking aim at the former U.S. president and current presidential candidate. Like the 40th president, former President Trump showed grit and resilience, particularly immediately after the incident when he raised a fist in a show of defiant strength, as blood streamed from his right ear. Tragically, a heroic rally-goer lost his life protecting his family members from the spray of bullets, while two other attendees were wounded.

The attempted assassination of former President Trump is a wake-up call for the American people in the 21st century. For years, Iowans have shared grave concerns about growing divisions in politics and civic life. As an elected leader, I strive to lead by example and show respect to those with whom I may disagree on political and policy views. It's one of many reasons I hold my annual 99 county meetings across the state, allowing Iowans to set the agenda and speak their minds in an open Q&A format. I also make it a point to frequently reach across the aisle in my legislative work in Washington. I'm proud to have been recognized among the top ten most bipartisan senators in Congress.

The Trump assassination attempt exposes incivility's ugly and deadly grip on our civic life. This horrible incident ought to serve as an inflection point to restore civility and respect for one another. As the longest serving member in the U.S. Senate, I've spoken out against political violence and political extremism on both ends of the ideological spectrum. At the same time, I continue to carry enduring hope in the promise of America. To strengthen our American covenant, we must come together as neighbors and fellow citizens to tone down the overheated political rhetoric of our time. For too long, public discourse has been laced with contempt for the other side, with venom and vitriol poisoning social media feeds and dividing Americans. Let's join together to close this chapter. We can engage in lively dialogue across kitchen tables and policymaking tables, peppered with respectful disagreement, not scorn and hatred. We can and must do better to heal what divides us.

Q: Why did you launch a congressional investigation just days after the assassination attempt?

A: As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, I've sent letters to the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to request records and responses regarding Saturday's monumental security failure. I'm looking for answers regarding the Secret Service's procedures leading up to, during and after the assassination attempt. I also called on the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) to immediately conduct a full and complete review of the assassination attempt. Just hours after I made my formal request, DHS OIG opened a review. My investigative staff was in contact with the Secret Service and DHS OIG within hours of the Pennsylvania rally shooting, but I still have many questions that need to be answered. That's also why I've sent letters to local law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania, including requests for audio and video recordings in their possession made before, during and after the incident, to help get to the bottom of the security failures. The attempt on the former president's life was a monumental security failure. It's important agencies' records and communications are not destroyed to help prevent this travesty from ever happening again. The American people deserve answers and accountability from federal agencies, particularly the Secret Service, to ensure they are able to fulfill their protective missions. As a watchdog for good government, I'm working to ensure the American people, public leaders, political candidates, as well as our allies and adversaries abroad, have confidence our federal law enforcement agencies have what they need to carry out their jobs and with competent leadership at the helm. That starts with full and complete transparency to Congress and the American people.

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