CNN commentator Scott Jennings argued on air that the United States is facing a growing problem of left-wing political violence, pointing to multiple assassination attempts against Donald Trump and attacks targeting prominent conservatives.
Jennings made the remarks in the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, where an armed suspect tried to breach security while President Trump and other top officials were inside.
Speaking during a tense segment, Jennings said conservatives are increasingly uneasy because violent incidents continue happening while heated rhetoric against right-leaning figures intensifies.
“You can understand why we’re on edge as conservatives, though. Three times the president, Steve Scalise, Brett Kavanaugh, Charlie Kirk. Heck, there was even a plot against Russ Vought the other day, who’s the head of the Office of Management and Budget,” Jennings said.
“Conservatives are rightfully on edge because this keeps happening over and over and over again, and people keep calling Donald Trump a Nazi, and they keep calling him a fascist.”
Jennings also said repeated accusations and conspiracy claims directed at Trump have contributed to a dangerous political environment.
“They keep repeating lies about him that are not true, yet they keep getting repeated regarding Epstein and other things,” he added.
WATCH:
We have a left-wing violence problem in America.
After 3x attempts on Trump, Charlie, Kavanaugh, Scalise and more… I wake up everyday with a knot in my stomach about what will happen next. pic.twitter.com/e0pePZOcyf
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) April 27, 2026
Jennings then turned personal, saying the broader climate of political violence weighs on him daily.
“I’m just telling you, as a conservative who lives in this every day, my friend was murdered last year. My president had three assassination attempts,” Jennings said. “I have a knot in my stomach about it every day that I wake up.”
The comments came just days after chaos erupted at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, one of Washington’s most high-profile gatherings of journalists, politicians and public figures.
31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California allegedly rushed a security checkpoint near the ballroom while armed, triggering gunfire near the main screening area. Secret Service agents and other officers quickly subdued the suspect before he could reach the main event space.
President Trump, Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials were evacuated safely during the incident. At least one law enforcement officer was struck during the confrontation but was protected by a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover. No fatalities were widely reported.
Multiple reports said the suspect now faces charges including attempting to assassinate the president along with firearms-related offenses.
The incident has renewed national debate over political violence and the escalating tone of American politics, particularly as public officials and media figures continue using inflammatory language toward opponents.
Saturday night’s shooting scare has intensified pressure on federal agencies to review security procedures for major political events, especially those attended by the president and senior officials.
