What we know about the suspect of the Dallas ICE shooting, identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, according to authorities, points to an apolitical video gamer who has no known connections to the Democratic Party; nonetheless, Trump and Vance have placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of Democrats and Governor Newsom, all without presenting any evidence to support their claims. This bold accusation has raised eyebrows and sparked intense debate across the political landscape.
The suspect in the shooting at the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office has been identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. Authorities report that he opened fire indiscriminately from a nearby rooftop, resulting in the death of one detainee and injuries to two others in a van before taking his own life. Although there is no confirmed motive, FBI officials noted that shell casings found at the scene contained anti-ICE messages.
Jahn, described by childhood friends as an apolitical video gamer with no known ties to any political party, had not been seen by them for nearly a decade. They recalled him as someone primarily interested in gaming and internet culture, with no inclination towards political activism. His online profiles indicated a strong passion for gaming, with thousands of hours logged in popular titles.
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| Jahn, described by childhood friends as an apolitical video gamer with no known ties to any political party |
Despite Jahn's lack of political involvement, President Donald Trump and VP JD Vance have attempted to frame the shooting as a consequence of leftist rhetoric against law enforcement. Vance specifically criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, suggesting that his political rhetoric contributes to a culture of violence against police.
In response, Newsom who like Vance is a likely 2028 presidential candidate, quickly fired back. He rejected Vance's claims, asserting that he consistently condemns violence against law enforcement. He also pointed out the irony in Trump's history of granting clemency to individuals involved in the January 6 insurrection.
“No thanks, JD. I will not be going ‘straight to hell’ today,” Newsom wrote on X. “Though when I watch you speak, I certainly feel like I’m already there.”
Trump attributed the shooting to the "radical left," arguing that their rhetoric has demonized law enforcement. This narrative has become common among prominent Republicans, who have increasingly blamed leftist discourse for recent violent incidents, including the recent shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Vance emphasized that while violence can occur from both sides, he believes the majority of political violence in recent months has originated from the left.
However, counterterrorism experts highlight that right-wing extremists have been responsible for most domestic terrorism incidents in the United States over the past two decades.
Specifically, those experts have found that right-wing terrorists, particularly white supremacists and anti-government extremists, committed the vast majority of domestic terrorism attacks in the United States over the past two decades.
Michael Jensen, research director at the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism consortium at the University of Maryland, said in an interview on the Washington Post about the GOP’s focus on domestic extremism that it's not even close. "It’s something like 5:1 in terms of the number of attacks and deaths that can be attributed to far-right actors as opposed to far-left actors.”
Jensen called assertions like the ones Vance made on Wednesday “historically inaccurate.”
Political violence has indeed surged since the beginning of the second Trump administration, with incidents on both the left and right. Many attacks, however, do not fit neatly into traditional political categories, as perpetrators often draw from a mix of ideologies.
The Department of Homeland Security has reported a significant increase in threats and assaults against ICE officers since Trump took office, with a noticeable rise in incidents involving firearms. However, Texas Congressman Marc Veasey criticized the emphasis on framing the Dallas shooting as a leftist attack, arguing that the focus should instead be on the victims—detainees rather than law enforcement officers. He expressed concern over partisan statements made by GOP lawmakers before all the facts were known.
“Why is there a need and an emphasis so important on keeping this about people from the far left shooting at law enforcement?” Veasey said, questioning why more focus wasn’t on the fact that it was detainees, not officers, hurt and killed.
The Blame Game: Trump and Vance fault Democrats and Newsom for the Dallas ICE shooting without any proof at all
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