A Republican state senator has called for “civil war” if Donald Trump loses the November presidential election.
George Lang, an Ohio lawmaker, made the comment as he introduced JD Vance at his first solo campaign event since becoming Trump’s running mate.
After taking to the stage fist-raised and shouting Trump’s post-shooting battle cry: “Fight! Fight!”, Mr Lang warned of an existential threat facing Americans. He declared in front of a large, heated crowd in Ohio: “We are in the fight for the soul of our nation… for our kids, for our grandkids, it is a fight we can never imagine.
“I believe wholeheartedly, Donald Trump and Butler County’s JD Vance are the last chance to save our country. Politically, I’m afraid if we lose this one, it’s going to take a civil war to save the country.”
Mr Lang said the Make America Great Again movement would be able to win such a war. “It will be saved. It’s the greatest experiment in the history of mankind,” he added.
The politician, who represents the hometown of Mr Vance, was forced to apologise later on Monday after Kamala Harris’s team accused the Trump-Vance campaign of “sowing hatred” and threatening their rivals.
“I regret the divisive remarks in the excitement of the moment on stage,” Mr Lang wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Especially in light of the assassination attempt on President Trump last week, we should all be mindful of what is said at political events, myself included.”
Mr Vance held the rally at his former high school in suburban Middletown where he played up his local ties, praised running mate Trump and attacked the now presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
“I was told I was going to debate Kamala Harris and now President Trump’s going to get to debate her,” Mr Vance said to laughs. “I’m kind of p—ed off about that.”
Mr Vance also threw into question Ms Harris’ patriotism, saying that when she gives a speech, “she talks about the history of this country not with appreciation but with condemnation”.
He added: “If you want to lead this country, you should feel grateful for it… And I never hear that gratitude come through when I listen to Kamala Harris.”
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