However, following the tragic event in El Paso where a white supremacist gunman killed 22 people, the political world is now heading towards a more intense debate on racist extremism. The gun lobby, social media companies, and websites like 8chan are all under fire for their role in spreading toxic ideas that have led to real-life consequences. President Donald Trump is also facing harsh criticism for the similarities between his rhetoric and the El Paso shooter's manifesto. Trump's attempts to deflect criticism, such as attacking the news media and vaguely calling for new background checks, have not been successful in easing the political pressure. Despite a statement condemning white supremacy and internet-fueled extremism, Trump's refusal to address his own language or support stricter gun regulations has only fueled further criticism and demands for accountability. Former President Barack Obama made a statement on Monday afternoon that highlighted how the gun violence debate was shifting towards a focus on extremism. Obama called for gun control and a strong national rejection of racism and those who promote it. He emphasized the need to reject language from leaders that promotes fear, hatred, and racist sentiments. Although Obama did not mention any leaders by name, Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidency directly blamed President Trump for empowering extremists. Joe Biden accused Trump of promoting white supremacy and dividing the country. Other political leaders also expressed their distress and alarm at the current state of affairs. Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City and a strong advocate for gun control, wrote in a column that the recent acts of violence should lead to a change in the political discussion surrounding guns. He criticized Trump's response as inadequate. Democratic presidential candidates, including Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, also criticized Trump for not taking enough responsibility for the rise in violence. Booker plans to give a speech on gun violence at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, where a mass shooting occurred in 2015. The issue of gun violence and racism is becoming increasingly important in elections beyond the presidential race, with candidates like Mike Johnston in Colorado blaming Trump for fostering a toxic culture that encourages violence and extremism. Candidates in the upcoming elections will have to take a clear stance on these issues. According to Johnston, you must choose to support either the white nationalists with AR-15s or the millions of Americans who fear them. Trump expressed openness to bipartisan solutions to address gun violence and attributed the spread of "sinister ideologies" to the internet and social media. He emphasized his support for the death penalty and seemed doubtful that gun restrictions would be effective, stating that mental illness and hatred, not guns, are the root of the problem. Trump's campaign criticized Democrats for politicizing national grief and defended the president's condemnation of racism and white supremacy. The campaign also pointed out that Bernie Sanders was not blamed when one of his supporters attempted to attack Republican lawmakers in 2017. He stated that the people who carry out such horrific attacks are ultimately responsible for them. While Trump and his supporters deny any blame for the increase in extremist violence, many in the public feel he has not distanced himself enough from white supremacists. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre in March revealed that a majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe Trump has not done enough to separate himself from white nationalist groups. This sentiment was shared by about a quarter of Republicans or those leaning towards Trump's party. It is not just those on the left who argue that the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton are a crisis for the country and a test for Trump. The conservative magazine National Review published an editorial calling for action against the "murderous and resurgent ideology" of white supremacy, urging Trump to condemn these actions clearly and repeatedly. Former Republican governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating, who led his state through the 1995 bombing by domestic terrorists, believes that the current situation calls for both new gun restrictions and a new approach from the White House. He advised Trump to be cautious with his choice of words to avoid causing fear or anger. Keating emphasized the importance of the president's rhetoric and called him the secular pope, stating he needs to be a moral leader as well as a government leader. He also expressed concern over whether the El Paso shooting could have a significant impact on national politics like the Oklahoma City bombing did in the 1990s. President Bill Clinton's response to the bombing helped restore confidence in his leadership. Trump has not shown any desire to take on a role of clear moral leadership or to reflect on his own involvement in divisive politics. Following a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, where a young woman was killed, Trump controversially stated that there were "very fine people on both sides." Recently, he has made unapologetic attacks on various members of racial minority groups. While many Republican lawmakers have not publicly criticized Trump after the recent shootings in El Paso and Dayton, there are private concerns within the party about the impact of his actions on the 2020 elections. During the 2018 midterm elections, Trump focused on illegal immigration in his campaign and his party suffered significant losses in diverse cities and affluent suburbs. In the final weeks of the 2018 elections, there were two traumatic events that may have further upset voters about the president's violent language and appeals to racism: attempted bombings by a Trump supporter and a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Trump initially expressed sorrow about the hate in the country following the shooting, but quickly returned to his caustic message. Despite this, his rural and white political base remained supportive. The Democratic party briefly united in the wake of the violence, highlighting the impact Trump's behavior will have on the 2020 campaign. Some Democrats seemed to acknowledge this political reality during last week's debates. In reality, the morning after his party's consecutive debates ended, Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state told a reporter in Detroit that he believed his party would easily come together for the 2020 election. Inslee stated, "We have the most powerful force of unity, besides a black hole, and that is a white nationalist in the White House."