Trump administration blames 'systemic demonization' by opponents for gala shooting, renews attacks on adversaries

Two days after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner that authorities treated as an assassination attempt, the Trump administration shifted from brief calls for unity to renewed attacks on political opponents. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed the incident on 'systemic demonization' by Trump's opponents, stating: 'The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend.' The response marked a quick pivot from Trump's initial conciliatory tone immediately after the April 25 shooting, in which he spoke of 'love and coming together.' The alleged shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, had actually railed against Trump administration policies in writings sent to family members before the attack, contradicting the administration's narrative that left-wing rhetoric motivated the violence.

"The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend" — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaking at a press briefing two days after the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, attributing the attack to left-wing rhetoric despite evidence the shooter opposed Trump administration policies