Republican Mark Sanford suggests Trump is 'partially' to blame for anger that incited Wednesday's shooting

Republican Rep. Mark Sanford (S.C.) suggested Thursday on MSNBC's Morning Joe that President Trump may be "partially" to blame for the anger and political hostility that led alleged shooter James Hodgkinson to gun down a congressional baseball practice Wednesday morning. "I would argue the president has unleashed, partially — again not in anyway totally — but partially to blame for demons that have been unleashed," Sanford said.

Sanford recalled how Trump once said he'd like to hit someone "in the face." "That's bizarre," Sanford said, arguing that "the fact that you've got the top guy saying" that sort of thing can lead others to follow suit. "They'll say, look, 'If the guy at the top can say anything to anybody at any time, why can't I?'" Sanford said.

He recounted how during a recent visit to a senior center in his home state he saw the residents swearing at each other. "What took place in terms of what people were saying to each other was like out of a movie," Sanford said, "and so we've got to find a way to dial this back."

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Catch the Morning Joe segment below. Becca Stanek