Michael Fanone, a former D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who survived the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, criticized Donald Trump on Tuesday for his response to the killing of an ally connected to Charlie Kirk last week.
Fanone told MSNBC's Chris Hayes that "I think that no American politician has done more to normalize political violence in this country other than Donald J. Trump." The remarks come as Trump faced scrutiny over his portrayal of the incident and the broader political climate.
Trump, in a video message from the Oval Office after the killing, blamed the radical left for rhetoric that he said was "directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today." Fanone said he was disgusted that Americans reelected a president who has been "so divisive and so destructive," arguing that Trump has used the killing to sow division rather than unite the country.
Fanone noted that Trump has a history of using inciteful and dehumanizing language to describe dissenters and political opponents. The former president has previously joked about the 2022 hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, urged rallygoers to "knock the crap" out of protesters, and, according to ex-Defense Secretary Mark Esper, reportedly wanted troops to shoot protesters who took to the streets after George Floyd's death.
In 2023, Trump echoed Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini when he vowed to "root out ... vermin" political foes, arguing that the threat from outside forces is far less sinister than the threat from within.
Fanone argued that Trump has further advocated for political violence by pardoning hundreds of rioters who were convicted of assaulting officers on Jan. 6, a move Fanone said undermines accountability and emboldens future violence.
"He has told his supporters that if you commit acts of violence, I’ve got your back and this administration will absolve you of any criminal culpability," Fanone said, adding that the message has resonated with Trump’s base.
Observers say the remarks come as lawmakers on both sides wrestle with how to address political violence and the tone of national leadership ahead of elections. Fanone's comments add to a broader conversation about accountability and the rhetoric that fuels confrontations in the political arena.
