Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh blamed President Barack Obama and Black Lives Matter protesters for the shooting of 12 police officers at a protest in Dallas Thursday.  

Five officers were killed and and seven others and two bystanders were wounded when gunmen ambushed police officers at a Black Lives Matter protest.  

Walsh, now a conservative talk radio host, tweeted “This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out Black Lives Matter punks. Real America is coming after you.”  

He later deleted the tweet before continuing with a stream of criticisms.

Obama & MN Gov Dayton popped off about racism after Baton Rouge & Minn. Before the facts were in.

Dallas? He says wait for the facts. Smh

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016

It’s time 4 patriotic Americans to stand up & stand against all the Cop haters – from Obama to the thugs on the street.

It’s way past time.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016

I wasn’t calling for violence, against Obama or anyone. Obama’s words & BLM’s deeds have gotten cops killed. Time for us to defend our cops.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016

Worst attack on our Police since 9/11.

This has been building for some time. Hating on Cops leads to killing Cops.

Stop it.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016

The attack followed the high-profile police shootings of two black men in two separate incidents in Louisiana and Minnesota. The first occurrence and the aftermath of the second were both caught on video.  

Walsh was elected in the tea party wave of 2010 by a narrow margin over three-term Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean, but was defeated two years later in a redrawn district by Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who is now running for Senate.  

Obama, speaking Friday from the NATO summit in Poland, called the shootings “vicious, calculated and despicable.”

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