If you’re wondering about the state of morality in the world, less than 24 hours after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania—an incident on Saturday that tragically claimed the life of one bystander and left Trump and two others injured—The Atlantic’s David Frum swiftly placed blame on Trump and his proponents for the violence.

In a disgusting, victim blaming article titled “The Gunman and the Would-Be Dictator,” Frum asserted that Trump bore responsibility for the attack, characterizing him as a fascist who thrived on violence. Frum argued that Trump’s past rhetoric and actions had sowed the seeds for the violence that now threatens him personally.

“Violence stalks the president who has rejoiced in violence to others,” Frum wrote. 

In a long winded essay, the leftist staff writer condemned Trump and his supporters for supposedly making violence a centerpiece of their political strategy in the 2024 election cycle.

Frum very briefly proclaimed the assassination attempt as a “horror and an outrage” before diving into the intended purpose of his op-ed: to blame the victim.

“Now the bloodshed that Trump has done so much to incite against others has touched him as well,” Frum wrote. “Trump and his supporters envision a new place for violence as their defining political message in the 2024 election.”

“Fascist movements are secular religions. Like all religions, they offer martyrs as their proof of truth. The Mussolini movement in Italy built imposing monuments to its fallen comrades. The Trump movement now improves on that: The leader himself will be the martyr in chief, his own blood the basis for his bid for power and vengeance.”

Frum continued on for quite a while, and in his grand finale, he wrote that “the gunman and Trump, at their opposite ends of a bullet’s trajectory, are nonetheless joined together as common enemies of law and democracy.”

Critics swiftly denounced Frum’s article, questioning both its content and its timing on X (formerly Twitter).

Joe Concha criticized Frum, saying, “David Frum needs help. In every way.” 

Concha called out the media in general for downplaying the Trump assassination attempt, calling it “absolute stupidity.”

Auron McIntyre from The Blaze remarked, “They are still trying to get Trump killed.”

Mike Davis, a prominent voice, lambasted Frum and others with similar views, describing them as “pathetic, delusional, and self-righteous,” for blaming Trump for the assassination attempt. 

“Former Bush 43 political appointees with Trump derangement are some of the most pathetic, delusional, and self-righteous people in politics. Blaming Trump and his family for his near assassination? @davidfrum definitely wins the trophy with this one. Truly a douchebag,” Davis posted on X.

Megan Basham of The Daily Wire seconded his disgust, stating, “You literally just published an essay saying Trump had it coming less than 24 hours after an assassin missed taking Trump’s life by millimeters. People are disgusted by what you wrote in @TheAtlantic because it was disgusting. You are not the victim here. Sit down.”

In response to the backlash, Frum and The Atlantic have not issued further comments.