Follow the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, left-wing politicians and commentators have sparked outrage with comments that seem to excuse the crime or justify its context.
Senator Bernie Sanders is the latest figure to weigh in, following earlier controversial remarks from Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Sen. Bernie Sanders: “Shooting somebody in the back is totally unacceptable, BUT…”pic.twitter.com/uVokMa6pu1
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Thompson was fatally shot in the chest near the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan in what authorities suspect was a targeted attack.
After a days-long manhunt, police arrested the alleged perpetrator, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was found in a McDonald’s. Mangione, a former Ivy League student, reportedly harbored grievances related to the healthcare industry.
Thompson’s murder has drawn widespread condemnation, but some public figures have couched their denunciations with language critics say borders on justification.
During a recent interview on MSNBC, Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed disapproval of Thompson’s killing but framed it as a symptom of broader frustrations with the healthcare system.
“Murder is always wrong,” Warren said. “But this tragic event is a reminder that there’s a limit to how much people can be pushed. The health insurance industry has created deep inequality and despair in this country, and sometimes, people lash out.”
Her remarks ignited a firestorm on social media, with critics accusing Warren of victim-blaming and downplaying the gravity of the crime.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Senator Bernie Sanders was asked to comment on Warren’s controversial statements. While Sanders condemned the act of murder, he echoed some of her sentiments about public anger toward the healthcare industry.
“Shooting somebody in the back is totally unacceptable,” Sanders stated. “But what I think has happened in recent months is that people are furious with a health insurance system that denies essential care while reaping billions in profits.”
A clip of Sanders’ remarks quickly went viral, with critics accusing him of providing a rationale for Mangione’s actions.
Conservatives and moderates alike condemned Sanders and Warren for their remarks, accusing them of excusing violence under the guise of social justice.
Critics likened Sanders’ reasoning to blaming a victim for wearing “provocative” clothing, arguing it shifts responsibility from the criminal to societal grievances.
“This kind of rhetoric is unacceptable,” said Republican Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). “No matter your views on the healthcare system, there is no justification for murder. Leaders need to stand unequivocally against violence, not add a ‘but’ to their condemnations.”
The Republican National Committee shared Sanders’ comments online with the caption, “CRAZY BERNIE: ‘Shooting somebody in the back is totally unacceptable, but…,’” highlighting what they see as the senator’s failure to offer an unequivocal condemnation.
Critics argue that comments like those from Sanders and Warren are part of a troubling pattern in which some left-wing figures contextualize or rationalize violent actions if they align with progressive causes.
They point to similar rhetoric surrounding other high-profile incidents, where crimes were attributed to systemic injustices rather than individual culpability.
“This is dangerous territory,” said political analyst Mary Beth Cline. “When politicians suggest that violence is a ‘warning’ or a symptom of larger societal issues, it risks normalizing such behavior or giving others an excuse to commit similar acts.”
Thompson’s murder has reignited debates about the healthcare system’s role in exacerbating economic inequality and personal despair.
While there is broad agreement that the system has significant flaws, many argue that framing violent acts as an outgrowth of those flaws is counterproductive and morally indefensible.
