In a recent campaign rally in Middletown, Ohio, Republican state Senator George Lang caused a stir with his comments suggesting that it would take a civil war to save the country if Republicans were to lose to Democrats in the 2024 presidential election. Lang's remarks, made in support of Ohio Senator JD Vance and former President Donald Trump, drew immediate backlash on social media and from political opponents.

Lang started his speech with chants of "Fight! Fight! Fight!" echoing Trump's infamous post-assassination attempt chant. He then expressed his belief that Trump and Vance were the last hope to save the country politically, warning that if they were to lose, a civil war might be necessary to rescue the nation.

Critics quickly condemned Lang's comments as dangerous and divisive. Tom Cooke, who is challenging Lang in the state senate race, called the remarks "dangerous" and stated that he would not stand for such rhetoric. Republicans Against Trump also criticized Lang, describing his words as "incredibly dangerous rhetoric." Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign issued a statement through the Cincinnati Enquirer, urging Trump and Vance to apologize for Lang's comments and accusing them of sowing hatred and division.

President Joe Biden also spoke out against Lang's remarks on social media, endorsing Harris and emphasizing the importance of solving problems through ballots rather than calls to violence. He stated that "calls to violence threaten our democracy's foundation" and reminded his followers that loving the country should not be limited to winning alone.

Following the backlash, Lang took to social media to apologize for his choice of words, expressing regret for the "divisive remarks" made in the heat of the moment. He emphasized the need for caution in political events, particularly in light of the recent assassination attempt on President Trump.

The incident has reignited calls for dialing down the rhetoric from both sides of the political aisle, considering the attempted assassination on Trump during a campaign rally on July 13. Trump initially claimed to pivot towards unity following the incident but has recently returned to attacking his rivals on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Vance's spokesperson, Taylor Van Kirk, stated that the vice presidential candidate was glad to hear Lang's apology and agreed with Trump's call to unite the country.

The Independent has reached out to Senator Lang for further comment on the matter.

As the election season heats up, it remains to be seen whether Lang's remarks will have a lasting impact on the political landscape, but they serve as a reminder of the importance of fostering a peaceful and inclusive political discourse.