British commentator Piers Morgan on Friday said President Trump can’t ignore the pro-Trump stickers on the van of the suspected bomb mailer, saying the president must “cool down” his own rhetoric.
A Florida man was arrested Friday in connection with explosive packages mailed to prominent Democrats and CNN this week.
The suspect’s van was removed by law enforcement after his arrest in Plantation, Fla.
{mosads}Stickers on the van indicated support for Trump alongside images of prominent Democrats with gun sight targets on their faces and phrases like “CNN SUCKS” and “dishonest media.”
“The pipe bomber suspect’s van is emblazoned with sinister targets over Trump opponents – some of whom received the bombs,” Morgan tweeted shortly after the suspect’s arrest. “He’s obviously a lunatic, but lunatics get triggered.”
“The President can’t ignore this, he MUST cool down his often violently aggressive rhetoric,” Morgan added.
Trump on Friday pledged to bring those responsible to “swift and certain justice.”
“We must never allow political violence to take root in America and I am committed to doing everything in my power to stop it and to stop it now,” he said.
The president’s comments follow his earlier remark that the bomb scare will halt Republican “momentum” going into the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
Trump also accused the media of “blaming” him for the explosive packages.
Cesar Sayoc Jr. was identified by several media outlets, citing law enforcement officials, as the suspect taken into custody. Sayoc is a registered Republican with a criminal record that includes felony theft, drug and fraud charges dating back to 1991.
Public records show he was once arrested and accused of threatening to use a bomb.
Law enforcement this week intercepted packages addressed to the residences of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden.
Other packages were addressed to Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) and Maxine Waters (Calif.), Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan, the latter two of whom served during the Obama administration.
No deaths or injuries have been associated with the bombs, which did not detonate.
No charges have been filed, but a spokeswoman for the Justice Department said a press conference will be held this afternoon to discuss the matter further.