The Brief: #MAGABomber is a hashtag created in response to bombs being sent to Democratic public figures, suggesting that Donald Trump's rhetoric encouraged the violence.

DEEP DIVE
This week, at least ten suspicious packages were sent to high-ranking Democratic figures, CNN, and other critics of Trump. According to the NYPD, some of the packages “appeared to contain pipe bombs.” Packages were sent to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, billionaire George Soros, former attorney general Eric Holder, Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters, CNN, actor Robert DeNiro, and former Vice President Joe Biden. No one has been hurt and the packages have been intercepted and destroyed by law enforcement.
Critics of president Trump have been using the hashtag #MAGABomber to imply that the rhetoric of the Trump administration may have fueled these attacks.
#MAGABomber
Use it.
Equate this the way it absolutely should be.— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 24, 2018
Even before the identity nor the ideology of the attempted bomber were revealed, many of Trump’s critics suggest that his rhetoric indirectly encouraged this attack. On Twitter, people with various political views have questioned the fairness of associating Trump with these attacks when little is actually known about the motivations behind them.
In a press conference on Wednesday, President Trump said that “the safety of the American people is my highest and absolute priority.” He condemned the attempted attacks as “despicable acts,” calling for unity in their wake.
The next morning, in a tweet, he suggested that the mainstream media is to blame stirring up anger and hate.
A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018
Right-Wing conspiracy theorists and meme-makers have been spreading the idea that these bombs are a hoax, potentially sent by Democrats for publicity. Although this narrative is gaining traction in some online spheres, this version of events is unproven fake news.
#MAGABomber on Twitter:
.@realDonaldTrump you and your hateful rhetoric are responsible for the #MAGAbomber.
— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) October 24, 2018
Whoever the #MAGABomber terrorist is, Trump is the spiritual mastermind. There is always time for unity, but this is a time for accountability.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) October 24, 2018
Good to see Trumps rhetoric isn’t inciting domestic terrorism in his base. Is five bombs terrorism yet?#MAGAbomber
— Christopher Titus (@TitusNation) October 24, 2018
That’s the anger, fear and resentment Donald Trump is fostering by not speaking out against his supporters prejudices and encouraging them to commit violence against those who ideologically oppose them. When they go low, we MUST go vote❗️ #MAGABomber
— ♻️🇺🇸 Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) October 24, 2018
I've been trying to think of a scenario where this whole thing is not completely on Donald Trump and his dangerous rhetoric for several hours now. I got nothin. #MAGABomber
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) October 24, 2018
As bombs are sent to the Clintons, Soros, Obama, and other Democratic leaders, and as Donald Trump feigns being presidential, Wall Street is tanking.
The Dow is now down for the year — it's now where it was the day Trump signed his tax cuts into law in Dec 2017.#MAGABomber pic.twitter.com/JyJdumyPtG
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) October 24, 2018