The Trump campaign leveled serious accusations at former administration staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin on Monday, claiming she was attempting to “incite more assassination attempts” against former President Donald Trump. Griffin, who has become a vocal critic of Trump since her departure from his administration, dismissed the accusation as “patently ridiculous.”
The clash began when Griffin shared her thoughts on the future of Trump’s political career. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she suggested that Trump’s influence in Republican politics might be reaching its peak. “Trump has been the most powerful force in Republican politics in at least 20 years,” she wrote. “He’s broken rules no one else could, he’s exceeded expectations, & proved predictions wrong. He’s had unbelievable comebacks. But I suspect we may be seeing the end of the Trump era.”
Griffin went on to explain that she believes Trump may be reaching a “ceiling” with voters. “After nearly a decade running for POTUS, Trump may have hit his ceiling,” she wrote. “There simply may not be significantly more votes for Trump to earn from an exhausted public ready for new blood. And now he’s up against a younger, more dynamic opponent, with a higher ceiling.”
The Trump War Room account quickly responded, accusing Griffin of implicitly calling for violence. “DESPICABLE! Co-host from The View calling for the end of Trump, hoping to inspire violence once more,” the account posted.
Griffin pushed back against the accusation, calling it “desperate and false.” “But of course, you know this,” she added, refuting the claim. George Conway, a conservative attorney and frequent Trump critic, also weighed in, stating, “They really have dialed up the lying,” echoing Griffin’s rejection of the accusation.
This exchange adds to a recent pattern in the Trump campaign’s messaging, which has increasingly emphasized the risks of “assassination plots” against the former president. One recent incident cited by the campaign involved Trump suffering a minor injury in Pennsylvania, which left him with a bleeding ear. Trump’s team has attributed these incidents, without evidence, to comments from Vice President Kamala Harris, who has criticized Trump as a “danger to democracy” and a “fascist.”
However, the Trump campaign’s allegations against Harris have been met with skepticism. There is no substantiated link between any would-be assailants and Harris or her statements. In fact, some of the individuals involved in these incidents have shown ties to the conservative Republican movement, complicating the narrative.
Harris has declined to engage with the Trump campaign’s accusations, and Democratic surrogates have been quick to remind the public of Trump’s own incendiary language. They point to instances where Trump, his running mate J.D. Vance, and other Republicans have labeled Harris as a “danger to democracy.” Additionally, critics highlight the January 6 Capitol riot, arguing that Trump incited a violent mob to try and prevent Congress from certifying his opponent’s electoral victory.
This latest exchange underscores the heated and polarized climate surrounding Trump’s campaign as both sides trade accusations of inciting violence and undermining democracy. As the campaign season progresses, the war of words between Trump and his critics shows no sign of cooling down, adding yet another layer of controversy to an already contentious election atmosphere.