By Alric Lindsay
According to an FBI update today, July 14, 2024, the FBI “has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania.” Concerning his health and current spirits, Donaldjtrump.com stated on July 13 that “President Trump is doing well and [is] grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action.” Donaldjtrump.com further stated that he looks forward to the Milwaukee event, where his team will continue with the “convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States.”
Assassination attempt & loss of life are tragedies.
While the former president’s team indicated that he was ok, they acknowledged the tragic loss of life at the event.
The campaign tweeted:
What Trump’s response means
One key observation from Donaldjtrump.com’s response is that it projected “resilience” notwithstanding the “wickedness” of the event.
Trump’s resilience and determination were further highlighted by his fist pump to the crowd while being escorted from the event stage yesterday with blood present near his ear. At the time, the crowd could be heard raising their voices to support him.
In addition to the crowd’s support, sympathy was expressed by world leaders and former president Barack Obama.
Obama denounced the event on Twitter, saying:
The new UK Prime Minister, Keir Stamer, echoed Obama’s sentiments.
Stamer said:
Media in China also reported that President Xi Jinping “expressed his sympathy to former U.S. President Donald Trump over a shooting at him.”
This outpour of positive responses may assist Trump’s campaign in three ways:
- Politically speaking, this could rally and strengthen support for him. It may also change the way some members of the public view him, perhaps leading them to change sides in favour of Trump.
- Global leaders who may have opposed him have now changed their remarks to support him, even temporarily.
- All media attention is now on Trump, placing him on the front page instead of his opponent.
The assassination attempt also etches Trump’s name in history, adding to the five previous US presidents (Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, James Garfield, Gerald Ford and Andrew Jackson) who immediately survived an assassination attempt. (While James Garfield survived the shooting at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 2, 1881, he died a few months later.)
Given the nature of the event, the North American public may now focus on national healing concerning violence. In addition, both sides of the presidential battle may direct increased attention to the need for unity rather than highlighting differences.
However, the event also reflects the need for heightened security measures, which will likely be present from July 15 to 18 for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a critical swing state for Trump.
Such additional security measures may be particularly impactful because protesters planned to demonstrate near the convention location. Under these circumstances, protesters’ activities could now be subject to new restrictions or more scrutiny.
Regardless of how the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, publicly and privately plays out (including whether Wisconsin will now swing more in Trump’s favour), the events of Saturday, July 13, 2024, are regrettable and should never happen again in North American politics.
