GOP official at JD Vance rally 'afraid' civil war needed if Trump loses, later recants

Ohio state Sen. George Lang (R) said at a Trump-Vance 2024 rally Monday that he’s “afraid” a civil war might be necessary if Republicans lose the November election, before later recanting his remarks.

“I believe wholeheartedly Donald Trump and Butler County's JD Vance are the last chance to save our country, politically,” Lang said at a rally in Middletown, Ohio, the hometown of the first-term senator and GOP vice presidential nominee.

“I'm afraid if we lose this one, it's going to take a civil war to save the country, and it will be saved. It's the greatest experiment in the history of mankind, and if we come down to a civil war, I'm glad we got people like … Bikers for Trump on our side,” he continued.

Lang took to social media shortly after the rally and recanted the remarks, saying they "do not accurately reflect my views."

"I regret the divisive remarks I made in the excitement of the moment on stage," Lang continued in the post on the social platform X. "Especially in light of the assassination attempt of President Trump last week, we should all be mindful of what is said at political events, myself included."

Officials have expressed concerns for months about the risk of political violence surrounding the 2024 presidential election, fears that went through the roof with this month's assassination attempt against former President Trump.

Trump, the GOP nominee, and many of his high-profile supporters have declined to commit to accepting the election results regardless of the outcome. Instead, they have said they are confident they will win and avoided addressing a hypothetical defeat.

Leaders in both parties have called for toning down political rhetoric in the wake of the attempt on Trump's life.

Lang spoke ahead of the headliner, Vance, whose remarks at the Ohio rally, held at his high school, marked his solo debut on the campaign trail as Trump’s running mate. The two nominees appeared together at a Michigan event Saturday.

Vance is slated to travel to Virginia later Monday to hold a second event in Radford.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for a response.

Updated at 3:53 p.m. ET