My Take | Bullet of failed assassin may just have sent Trump back to the White House
- In a US plagued by gun violence, it’s little surprise that an election could be decided by an attempt on former president’s life
World leaders have rushed to send Donald Trump their best wishes and condemn the failed assassination. They all know they need to get on the good side of the candidate who more than likely will again be the president of the United States. Now they have a five-month lead to cosy up and ready their policy and posture for a probable second Trump administration.
It is hardly surprising that in a country plagued by gun violence at home and which exports weapons and conflicts abroad, a presidential election between two elderly candidates – one of whom appears mentally infirm but neither in their prime – is likely to be decided by a bullet rather than the poll.
Heads of state competed for strong adjectives to denounce the violent attempt on Trump, who narrowly escaped death when a bullet grazed his ear. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “sickened” to learn of the shooting. His British counterpart Keir Starmer said he was “appalled”, adding: “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies.”
Unfortunately, it is part of the political landscape in the United States.
To appreciate why Trump appeals to so many Americans, yet offends Western liberals, who by and large form the backbone of support for politicians such as Trudeau and Starmer, you only need to imagine what their instinctive reactions might have been in a similar assassination attempt against them. Most likely, theirs would be the opposite of Trump’s.
Secret service agents, assigned to protect every sitting and former president, appeared to have trouble getting him off stage as he punched his clenched fist repeatedly in the air, and apparently mouthed “Fight, fight, fight”.
