Earlier today, while starting a campaign rally, Former President Trump was shot. While the President sustained a wound to his right ear/side of the head, 2 supporters were also shot. After the Secret Service “neutralized” the shooter, Trump was quickly moved to his vehicle and rushed off-site. 1 supporter was killed and another remains in critical condition per major news reports.
The implications of the shooting and the motive of the shooter are not fully known. What is apparent is the need to keep America whole, strong, and not divided.
Assume the shooter was a lone wolf. America experienced this with President Reagan and John Hinkley Jr. The country, unlike today, was less prone to the divisive politics that have pitted two parties at each other’s throats. Yet the attempt on a running candidate today has the potential to divide a nation already lacking true leadership from the right, middle, or left.
As with other assassination attempts, citizens do not want to believe that the shooter was a lone entity. Some who do not remember the Kennedy brother assassinations, MLK, or the attempt on Reagan, may believe that this was an orchestrated effort by “Deep State,” Party Political operatives, or even those with a grudge to settle against Trump and his former dealings. Believing the actual footage is all that one needs to understand.
Acting, this was not. Motives galore exist – from the Dems to the many political actors against Trump’s efforts. Hopefully, none are legitimate. For the media, they need to look at what their role is.
Reporting only the facts, uncolored and unbiased, should be the Fourth Estate’s” only mandate. When not told honestly, factually, or accurately, the American system of government becomes vulnerable. Globally, history should not be allowed to repeat. World War I began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian separatist. Germany’s actions in support of the Austrian-Hungarians ultimately became the tipping point for the “Great War.”
Trump’s return to his next podium – the formal nomination process at the Republican National Convention – is set to be more dramatic than it would have otherwise been. Supporters are going to overlook that an AR-15 was in the hands of a 20-year-old, white male with a high school degree. Some may skew the facts seen repeatedly over the past 24 hours. As shown from his last podium, expect Candidate Trump to be emboldened by his abilities to fend off danger having survived covid and now an attempt on his life.