A nation busy with election preparations found itself steeped in tension and outrage after an incident on Saturday. Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump, surrounded by security and with bloodstains on his face, became an enduring image in America's history. These pictures circling the globe may significantly influence the upcoming presidential election results.
The attack on Trump could potentially alter the course of the 2024 US Presidential Election.
Source: aajtak
Was there a larger plot in the works?
The attacker on Trump reportedly had explosive materials in his car. One person died in the attack, later identified as 50-year-old Corey Competer. Following the attack, an earlier video of a Christian pastor predicting the attack on Trump went viral on social media.
Republicans lash out at Biden
Trump is known for his aggressive rhetoric in speeches, but his supporters blame President Joe Biden's rhetoric for the attack. Ohio Senator JD Vance wrote on a social media platform, 'Today's incident isn't isolated. Biden's campaign is predicated on the notion that Trump is an authoritarian fascist that must be stopped at all costs. This kind of rhetoric directly resulted in the attack on Trump.'
'No place for such violence in America'
Biden, however, was quick to condemn the attack, labeling it 'inexcusable political violence' and suspended campaign ads targeting Trump. Biden stated, 'There is no place for this kind of violence in America.' The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was a registered Republican and had previously donated $15 to a political action committee that fundraises against leftist and Democratic leaders. The attack might boost Trump's presence at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Source: aajtak
'Respond at the ballot box'
Hours after the shooting, Trump's campaign sent a message to voters, 'They're not after me; they're after you.' Elon Musk and Bill Ackman have both supported Trump. Musk stated on social media, 'I fully support President Trump and wish for his swift recovery.'
Trump's campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita wrote, 'For years and even today, leftist activists, Democrat donors, and even Joe Biden have made abhorrent comments about shooting Donald Trump... It's time they're held accountable... The best way is the ballot box.'
America grapples with political violence
America has seen the largest and most sustained increase in political violence since the 1970s. Since the attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, 13 of the 14 deadly political attacks have been carried out by right-wing assailants, while one was by a leftist.
Despite being a former President, Trump has maintained in his campaign that he has been targeted long by the Biden administration to thwart his hold on power, often resorting to violent and offensive rhetoric. He has warned of 'bloodshed' if not re-elected and even claimed that illegal immigrants are 'poisoning our nation’s blood.'
Republican Party may benefit
Some Republicans were already inflamed by Trump’s statements. Chip Felkel, a Republican activist in South Carolina, said, 'If the country wasn't a powder keg before, it is now.' Democratic strategist Brad Bannon believes the shooting could politically benefit Trump as it underscores his campaign narrative that the country is on the wrong path.
'The assassination attempt generates sympathy for Trump. It forces voters to consider that something fundamentally is wrong in this country, a thought that heightens support for Trump,' said Bannon.
Doubts about Biden among Democrats
On the other hand, Biden has faced internal party debate regarding whether he should step down as the Democratic candidate, with questions about his fitness for the presidency. However, Biden has stated his doctors have assured him he's in good health. Following the last presidential debate, some surveys showed Trump gaining momentum while others indicated a neck-and-neck race.
