Violence and Misinformation: Is the Attack on Paul Pelosi an Indication of a Dangerously Polarised America?

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On October 28, 2022, an assailant attacked Paul Pelosi, husband of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, with a hammer during a home invasion at the couple’s residence in San Francisco, California. Pelosi, 82, suffered severe injuries to his right arm and hands and underwent surgery for a fractured skull. The attacker was later identified as far-right extremist David DePape, aged 42.

DePape, arrested at the scene by the San Francisco police, reportedly sought to take Speaker Pelosi hostage, “break her kneecaps”, and interrogate her. At the break-in time, Paul was sleeping in the third-floor bedroom of the home. The intruder gained access to the Pelosi residence by breaking through glass-panelled doors at the house’s rear and demanding to speak to Nancy. When Paul said she was not home (she was in Washington DC. at the time), the intruder said he would wait. Seeking help from police, Pelosi told the intruder that he needed to use the bathroom, where he then made a secret 911 call. When the police arrived, DePape attacked Pelosi with a hammer, and was quickly tackled and restrained by the police. After capturing the intruder, police discovered multiple zip ties, duct tape, white rope, a second hammer, and gloves in his backpack.

DePape has been charged with attempted kidnapping and assault, and on November 15 2022, he pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi, who was flown in from Washington DC, wrote a “Dear Colleague” Letter to members of the House of Representatives, saying that her extended family was “heartbroken and traumatised by the life-threatening attack” and thanking law enforcement, emergency services, and hospital staff for aiding her husband.

Such a violent incident targeting a prominent politician has again spurred fresh concerns over threats of political violence driven by partisan animosity and increasingly hostile political rhetoric – highlighting the potential vulnerability of lawmakers and their families in the current political climate. A personal attack is an infringement upon the safety of individuals, but beyond the surface-level issues, does this allude to the unprecedentedly volatile situation America faces today?

Current President Joe Biden compared the attack on Paul Pelosi to the January 6 Capitol Attack, which is the perfect example of the dangerous, deceptive and destructive scenes that political demagogues like Trump can instigate at will. Trump’s hour-long speech, where he mentioned 22 variations of the word “fight”, led to 2000 rioters looting and vandalising the Capitol Building because they rejected the election results. These were embarrassing scenes for a nation that prides itself on its democracy. Such an attack had a worrying effect on public morale. In a poll of Americans just after the attack, 79% of those surveyed said America is “falling apart.” These acts of aggression, incitement of insurrection and, most importantly, acts of borderline anarchical behaviour cannot and should not ever occur again in a democratic country.

Violence against politicians cannot be justified on any grounds. As I see it, the political climate in the US is genuinely alarming. Vice President Kamala Harris blamed the current political environment for inspiring the attack. Former President Barack Obama called the current political situation “dangerous.” The main concern is that democracy is not just about freedom of speech, it’s also a means of preserving peace and law and order in modern society. What’s worrying in this situation is that some politicians might be spreading political messages with violent undertones. Not everyone has the same rationality to interpret violence as out of the question. So even if Republican politicians suggest that the attack was not entirely politically motivated as they had no natural hand behind it, they are also part of the problem. What’s more dangerous than a ruthless cynic is a ruthless true believer.

Political power and misinformation have also been interlinked in the recent past, especially with the advent of social media. There has been bipartisan condemnation of the attack, but some prominent Republican figures have drawn scrutiny and criticism for their response. Glenn Youngkin, the Republican governor of Virginia, said, “There’s no room for violence anywhere.” This an appropriate comment in the circumstances but much to the dismay of everyone, other prominent right-wing supporters haven’t echoed his sentiments. Elon Musk shared a tweet with an article from a right-wing fake news website, falsely suggesting that the attack resulted from a drunken Paul Pelosi fighting with his male prostitute, DePape. Musk deleted his tweet only hours after it had already amassed 24,000 retweets and 86,000 likes. Other right-wing figures who spread misinformation about the attack included Roger Stone, Dinesh D’Souza, and Steve Bannon, all of whom suggested the attack was a “false flag.” 

Trump depicted the attack on Pelosi as a random street crime, possibly staged, blaming the Democrats.. This spiral of misinformation and conspiracy theories has distracted the nation and portrayed a despicable incident as a joke. In an emotional interview with CNN, Nancy said, “You see what the reaction is on the other side to this, to make a joke of it, and really that is traumatising.” In the modern political climate, misinformation has taken on an unprecedentedly salient role in contributing to the divisive nature of politics in Congress. What is most worrying is the real-world consequences just one post online can make.

Though there have been conflicting viewpoints, it is clear that the horrendous attack on Paul Pelosi should have never occurred. A combination of political infighting, polarised aggression and irrational ideologies sparked such violence, which has no place in a modern democracy. If electoral results are continuously questioned then the fundamental democratic values of the US are questioned. If the term “national interest” continuously becomes the subject of debate rather than a meaningful motive, demagoguery might prevail again. If inaccurate information and irresponsible online behaviour continues, the truth will never see the light of day. Without doubt, 2024 will be a crucial year for the future of the US, and the general public will need to collectively find a way forward. One that can truly unite America again.