”The visceral and violent rhetoric that has poisoned our public square must be tamped down immediately. Tonight’s shocking incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where shots were fired, forcing the President and others to be rushed to safety, serves as a stark and dangerous reminder of where unchecked inflammatory language can lead,” said Rutledge. 

“Civil discourse must prevail over civil disobedience and unrest. Political disagreements, no matter how passionate, should never cross into threats, intimidation, or violence. We are a nation of laws and institutions, not a battlefield for extremists. All Americans, across media, politics, and society, have a responsibility to reject hatred, lower the temperature, and recommit to debate rooted in ideas rather than incitement.”