Scripps News contributor and three-time failed presidential campaign strategist Steve Schmidt on Tuesday published a meandering response to the first night of programming at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, in which the Lincoln Project cofounder repeatedly likened the proceedings to a Nazi rally.
The self-published piece came just two days after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and warnings from political leaders about the dangers of overheated political rhetoric. Schmidt likened the Milwaukee convention to a "Bund gathering," a reference to the German American Nazi organization, and referred to the model, rapper, and former romantic partner of Kanye West, Amber Rose, who spoke to Republican delegates on Monday evening, as "Kanye Himmler’s ex."
He also drew a comparison between Trump and his would-be assassin, writing, "The assassin who tried to kill Trump shared something with him—violence and a hatred for democracy."
"Many commentators say that America has entered an era in which there are no persuadable voters left to be persuaded, but that viewpoint was shattered on day one of the Bund gathering in Milwaukee, when Speaker of the House Mike Johnson turned into a bespectacled bobble head enthralled by Amber Rose, Kanye Himmler’s ex," Schmidt wrote.
Scripps News added Schmidt as a contributor earlier this year and touted its convention coverage in a Monday tweet, writing that it will be "LIVE all week" from Milwaukee. The network did not respond to a request for comment.