Ohio Republican at JD Vance rally ‘fears’ that Trump’s defeat would lead to civil war

Sarah Fortinsky and The Hill

5 hours ago

Related Video: JD Vance Accepts Vice Presidential Nomination During RNC

(The Hill) – Republican Ohio State Senator George Lang said at a Trump-Vance 2024 rally on Monday that he was “terrified” that a civil war might be necessary if Republicans lose the election.

“I believe with all my heart that Donald Trump and JD Vance of Butler County are the last chance to save our country politically,” Lang said at a rally in Middletown, Ohio, the hometown of the first-term senator and Republican vice presidential candidate.

“I fear that if we lose this fight, it will take a civil war to save the country, and it will be saved. It is the greatest experiment in human history, and if it comes to a civil war, I’m glad we have people like … Bikers for Trump on our side,” he continued.

Later in the day, Lang apologized and posted the following statement on X:

Remarks I made today at a rally in Middletown do not accurately reflect my views. I regret the polarizing remarks I made on stage in the heat of the moment. Particularly in light of the assassination attempt on President Trump last week, we should all be careful about what is said at political events, myself included.

For months, politicians have expressed concern about the risk of political violence surrounding the 2024 presidential election – a fear that was heightened by the assassination attempt on former President Trump this month.

Trump, the Republican nominee, and many of his prominent supporters have refused to accept the election results, whatever the outcome. Instead, they have said they are confident they will win and avoided addressing a hypothetical defeat.

Following the assassination attempt on Trump, leading politicians from both parties called for a softening of political rhetoric.

Lang spoke ahead of primary candidate Vance, whose speech at the Ohio rally held at his high school marked his solo debut as Trump’s running mate on the campaign trail. The two candidates appeared together at an event in Michigan on Saturday.

Vance is scheduled to travel to Virginia later Monday to hold a second event in Radford.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump team for a response.