Missouri lawmakers express concern after Trump assassination attempt

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Many Missouri lawmakers are in Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention.

“The last 48 hours have been tough for America,” said Representative for Missouri’s 8th congressional district Jason Smith.

The topic on everyone’s mind is Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

“It was an unbelievable experience and a historic one,” said Congressman Eric Burlison.

Congressman Mark Alford said he almost cried when he heard the news.

“We need some answers,” Alford said. “We need to figure out what went wrong, who was involved, and keep that from ever happening again.”

Alford, who represents the 4th congressional district in Missouri, is one of the delegates for Missouri at the RNC this week.

“We need healing in America,” Alford said. “And I think that healing is coming because we realize that it is because of God that Donald Trump is still alive and we have a cause greater than ourselves.”

Smith says the image of former President Donald Trump with blood running down his face is now becoming a powerful symbol for Republicans.

“That’s what Americans want,” Smith said. “They want someone that they know that’s going to bring strength and continue to lead.”

Burlison says Trump “loves everything about America.”

“Let’s stop trying to demonize him and start reducing the temperature and the rhetoric,” Burlison said.

Most lawmakers at the RNC this week are calling for an investigation into what went wrong from a security standpoint.

“The fact that a 20-year-old was able to get on top of a roof 160 yards away and shoot at the former president is absolutely unacceptable,” Smith said. “And it shows that there was clearly a breach in the Secret Service.”

Burlison said he will be at the hearing next week where they will question the Secret Service on security issues.

“Of all the places, that would be the only spot where it’s risky, where there would be risk of someone being on the roof,” Burlison said.

The lawmakers OzarksFirst spoke with say the mood is not tense at the RNC. Instead, they say the focus is on unity and positivity.

“This attempt at assassination of President Trump, though, has united us in a way that nothing else could have,” Alford said. “And thank God that through the providence of protection of God Almighty, President Trump is here today.”

Trump is expected to speak at the RNC on Thursday.

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