Accusations fly after bombs target Democrats

It began on Monday with a suspicious package found tucked inside the mailbox of wealthy philanthropist George Soros. It turned out to contain a pipe bomb filled with explosive powder. The FBI arrived and detonated it.

On Wednesday, a series of similar packages were sent to other well-known political figures including Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, and former CIA Director John Brennan. This last package was sent to Brennan at CNN’s offices in New York City, causing the staff to be evacuated while live on air. New York’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, described the attempted bombing as an act of terror.

Yesterday, it continued: suspicious packages were found addressed to actor Robert De Niro and former Vice-President Joe Biden. The FBI warned that there could be more.

No one has been hurt by the devices.

So far, no one knows who is behind the bombs or what their motivation is. However, the targets all have one thing in common: they are critics of President Donald Trump or have been criticised by him.

At the White House on Wednesday, Trump condemned acts of political violence and called on America to “unify”. He promised that law enforcement would “get to the bottom of it”.

However, his comments were followed the next morning by a tweet blaming the country’s anger on “the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the mainstream media”.

Meanwhile, some have blamed Trump’s own rhetoric for stoking an atmosphere of violence. Brennan himself said Trump’s words had “helped to incite some of these feelings of anger, if not violence,” particularly against journalists. Last week, Trump praised a congressman who assaulted a journalist in 2017, calling him “my kind of guy”.

“President Trump’s words ring hollow until he reverses his statements that condone acts of violence,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Is it fair to blame Trump?

Divided states

Yes, say some. He may not have wanted bombs, but he has repeatedly encouraged violence against reporters at his rallies. He has called the media “the enemy of the people”. On Monday he told crowds that “the Democrats have launched an assault on… the safety of every single American.” It is not surprising that someone seems to have taken matters into their own hands.

You cannot blame Trump for the actions of one individual (or group of individuals), argue others. Anger has spilled over into violence on both sides of the political divide: last year, a congressman was shot by someone who, according to the Virginia attorney general, was “fueled by rage against Republican legislators.” If America is really going to unify, it must happen across the political spectrum.