An Ohio Republican has apologised after appearing to threaten a civil war if Donald Trump fails to win November’s presidential election.
George Lang, a state senator, made the comment during a boisterously pugnacious introduction for JD Vance, the former president’s running mate who is also a US senator for Ohio.
“I’m afraid if we lose this one, it’s going to take a civil war to save the country, and it will be saved,” Lang told a Republican audience at Vance’s former high school in Middletown, Ohio, as he prepared to introduce the vice-presidential nominee. “It’s the greatest experiment in the history of mankind, and if we come down to a civil war, I’m glad we got people like … Bikers for Trump” and the group’s national president, Mark “Smitty” Smith, “on our side”.
Lang’s civil war prediction came after he took the stage, shook his fist and shouted, “fight, fight, fight, fight, fight” in a manner reminiscent of Trump when he mouthed the words to supporters in the seconds after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on 13 July.
As the crowd took up the chant, Lang followed up, saying: “We got time, come on. Hey, we are in the fight for the soul of our nation.
“We are in a fight for our kids and our grandkids, a fight that we can never imagine. I believe wholeheartedly Donald Trump and … JD Vance are the last chance to save our country.”
After remarks to the local media, however, Lang – who was elected to the Ohio senate in 2021 after having served in the state’s lower chamber – struck a less belligerent and distinctly remorseful tone.
“I regret the divisive remarks I made in the excitement of the moment on stage,” he posted on X. “Especially in light of the assassination attempt of President Trump last week, we should all be mindful of what is said at political events, myself included.”
He told one news outlet that he had not spoken to the Trump campaign before or after his civil war comment. The comments elicited criticism from Democrats, led by Joe Biden, who has repeatedly warned of the dangers of political violence and called for politicians to “lower the temperature” after the attempt on Trump’s life.
“Folks, calls to violence threaten our democracy’s foundation,” the president wrote on a post on X linked to video footage of Lang’s speech. “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
Biden’s former re-election campaign – now renamed the Harris for President campaign after Kamala Harris since his announcement on Sunday that he was withdrawing as the Democratic candidate – attributed Lang’s comments to previous remarks made by Trump.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance are running a campaign openly sowing hatred and promising revenge against their political opponents,” a Harris campaign spokesperson said. “That’s why a Republican official was empowered to predict a civil war while introducing these candidates.”
