Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders has warned of the possibility that an assassination attempt like the one made against Donald Trump could occur in Europe, urging people not to underestimate the “hatred towards right-wing politicians.” Wilders and other European leaders such as Nigel Farage and Robert Fico attribute this rising aggression towards right-wing figures to the media’s incitement of hatred.
Wilders responded to Trump’s assassination attempt, which took place during a Pennsylvania rally, by saying that the leftish politicians and media who label right-wing politicians as racists and Nazis are playing with fire. He added that what happened in the US can also happen in the Netherlands, and advised that security measures for right-wing politicians should be increased.
Despite the potential dangers, Wilders expressed optimism about Trump’s prospects, stating: “I love America. The strength and perseverance of the American people is unprecedented.” He further expressed his support for Trump to become the 47th President, believing that no one deserves it more than him.
Geert Wilders has faced political violence throughout his career, having been forced to live in a safe house with round-the-clock security after radical Islamists issued death warrants against him due to his 2008 film Fatima which criticized the Muslim religion and its connection to Islamic terrorism.
As the leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) and the main power player in the Dutch parliament, Wilders has claimed to still receive multiple death threats per day. The Threatened Politicians Team at The Hague reported that Wilders received at least half of the total 1,125 death threats made against Dutch politicians in 2022.
In September last year, Pakistani cricket player Khalid Latif was sentenced to 12 years in prison for putting a $23,000 bounty on Wilders’ head as a response to the populist’s critical stance on Islam. However, it is unlikely that Latif will ever face justice since he resides in Pakistan, which does not have an extradition treaty with The Netherlands.
Saturday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump was also condemned by newly-installed Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who said: “Shocked by the attack on former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump.” He expressed relief that Trump escaped with only minor injuries and wished him and his loved ones the best of luck in their recovery. Schoof emphasized that political violence is completely unacceptable.