Senator Slams GOP Silence on Trump's 'Genocide' Post

Van Hollen says lack of Republican response shows 'just how bankrupt the party has become'

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A surreal, fragmented painting depicting the crumbling of a government institution, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of muted, earthy colors, conveying a sense of political instability and decay.The Republican Party's muted response to Trump's inflammatory rhetoric reflects a concerning pattern of deference to the former president.Anchorage Today

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) criticized his Republican colleagues for failing to condemn a social media post by former President Donald Trump in which he threatened 'a whole civilization will die tonight.' Van Hollen said the GOP's silence on Trump's apparent threat of genocide demonstrates 'just how bankrupt the Republican Party has become under Donald Trump.'

Why it matters

The lack of Republican response to Trump's inflammatory rhetoric raises concerns about the party's willingness to hold the former president accountable, even when he appears to threaten war crimes. This reflects a broader pattern of GOP deference to Trump that has persisted despite his divisive and controversial statements.

The details

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Iran that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.' Hours later, he announced a two-week ceasefire, though the details remain unclear. Van Hollen, a vocal opponent of the war, said the only thing Republicans care about is 'their own elections' rather than condemning the president's threat of 'massive war crimes and genocide.'

  • On Tuesday morning, Trump posted the threat on Truth Social.
  • Hours later, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire.

The players

Sen. Chris Van Hollen

A Democratic senator from Maryland who has been a staunch opponent of the war since it began on February 28.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

A Republican senator from Alaska who was the only GOP member to publicly condemn Trump's threat.

Donald Trump

The former president who posted the controversial 'genocide' threat on Truth Social.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'It says something about just how bankrupt the Republican Party has become under Donald Trump, that none of them said a peep.'”

— Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democratic Senator

“'The President's threat that 'a whole civilization will die tonight' cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran.'”

— Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican Senator

What’s next

Van Hollen said Republican senators must 'be more afraid of their constituents than they are of Donald Trump' in order to condemn the former president's inflammatory rhetoric.

The takeaway

The GOP's silence on Trump's apparent threat of genocide highlights the party's ongoing struggle to distance itself from the former president's divisive influence, even when his statements raise serious ethical and legal concerns.