Two Years After Butler, Republicans Renew Scrutiny of Susie Lee’s Rhetoric

Two years after the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Republicans are again drawing attention to political rhetoric they argue has contributed to an increasingly toxic climate in American politics.

The anniversary has renewed debate over the tone of the nation’s political discourse following a period marked by threats against elected officials from both parties and multiple security incidents involving President Trump.

In Nevada, Republicans are focusing on Rep. Susie Lee, arguing that her own public comments undercut Democrats’ calls to lower the political temperature.

The latest flashpoint came during a June appearance before the Sun City Liberal Club, where Lee described questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before telling the audience, “It’s so easy. It’s so easy. Like you just wanna beat the shit out of him.” The remark drew laughter from attendees.

The comment immediately drew criticism from Republicans, who argued it crossed the line from heated political criticism into violent rhetoric.

It was not the first time Lee’s language has come under scrutiny.

Earlier this year, the National Republican Congressional Committee criticized Lee over a social media post in which she wrote that she hoped the Supreme Court would “f*** him to his face” in reference to President Trump. At the time, the NRCC argued the comments reflected what it described as increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat elected officials.

Republicans say those statements take on added significance given the events of July 13, 2024, when a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump survived the attack after being struck in the ear, while attendee Corey Comperatore was killed shielding his family and several others were wounded.

The motive behind the Butler attack has remained the subject of an ongoing federal investigation, and authorities have not concluded that the shooter acted because of any particular political figure’s rhetoric.

Nevertheless, Republicans argue elected officials have a responsibility to avoid language that appears to normalize violence against political opponents.

The NRCC has previously highlighted Lee’s remarks as part of a broader critique of Democrat messaging, arguing that political leaders should model civility even during fierce policy disagreements.

Lee has frequently described herself as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and has emphasized working across the aisle on issues affecting Nevada. Republicans argue that comments such as those about Hegseth are inconsistent with that image and are likely to become an issue in her reelection campaign.

The controversy comes as Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District is expected to be among the most competitive House races in the country. Republicans are seeking to tie Lee to national Democrat messaging while portraying Trump-endorsed Republican Marty O’Donnell as offering a different approach focused on the economy, border security, and public safety.

On the second anniversary of Butler, Republicans say the lesson is not about partisan advantage but about responsibility.

Their argument is that political leaders should choose their words carefully because, in an era of heightened tensions, rhetoric matters.

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