Citing his recent comments, Republicans blame Joe Biden for Donald Trump rally shooting

A number of Republicans are pointing fingers at President Joe Biden after the shooting of former President Donald Trump at a political rally on Saturday, with some citing Biden’s recent statement that “it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.”

Biden told donors in a private phone call on Monday that Trump was running from his record and that Democrats "can't go another day without explaining what he's doing."

"We can't waste any more time being distracted," Biden said, pointing out that the election was just four months away.

"I have one job and that's to beat Donald Trump," Biden said. "We're done talking about the (June 27) debate. It's time to put Trump in the bullseye. He's gotten away with doing nothing for the last 10 days except ride around in his golf cart, bragging about scores he didn’t score…The fact is, he's not answering questions."

Republicans pounced on Biden's remarks after the shooting, even though there is no evidence tying those comments to the attack on Trump or the shooter's motivation. The man the FBI has identified as the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel, Pennsylvania, is a registered Republican, according to county voter records.

Still, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., shared part of the Biden quote on X and claimed without evidence along that “Joe Biden sent the orders.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and the X account for the Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee shared a snippet of the quote on X as well.

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Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, a contender to be Trump's running mate, also took to X to blame the shooting on the Biden campaign, writing that the campaign's rhetoric "led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.”

Biden condemned the shooting on Saturday at an emergency briefing room in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, telling reporters "there is no place for this kind of violence in America. It’s sick. It’s sick."

“The idea – the idea – that there’s political violence, or violence in America like this, is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate. Everybody, every must condemn it. Everybody,“ he said.

Biden also has repeatedly condemned political violence throughout the campaign and during his presidency, saying it is wrong and has no place in America.

USA TODAY reporter Michael Collins contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republicans blame Joe Biden for Donald Trump rally shooting