Knowing how divided this country is, I’ve often wondered: is it only a matter of time?
Supporters wait for Donald Trump to take the stage ahead of the chaos. AP
I reported, for example, on that chilling night in 2022 when a far-right conspiracy theorist broke into the home of former US speaker Nancy Pelosi , hoping to take Pelosi hostage if she had been in the house at the time.
I was around too, in the aftermath of the US Supreme Court decision to overturn abortion rights in America, when an armed man came to the residence of conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, hoping to assassinate him.
And who could forget the January 6, 2021 attack, when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building hoping to stop Joe Biden’s election victory?
But even though political violence is not new in this country, seeing the images of America’s 45th president shot as he stood on stage in Pennsylvania rocked me to the core.
There he was, talking about the US border crisis, when a popping sound was heard, prompting him to put his right hand up to his ear.
And there he was, pulled away by Secret Service agents, his face covered in blood as he pumped his fist in the air to rally the crowd – an image for the ages – before agents whisked him to his motorcade.
It is still not clear who is responsible for the attack or what political beliefs they hold.
The Secret Service said the suspected shooter fired from “an elevated position outside of the rally venue”.
This makes sense: after all, getting into a Trump rally is a test of endurance – those who are not part of the accredited media generally have to wait in line for hours (and his loyal supporters gladly do) before going through a security check to ensure no weapons make it into the venue.
Fortunately, the former president is now safe. The suspected gunman is dead and, according to officials, the episode is being investigated as an assassination attempt.
There are many unanswered questions but what is clear is that this is a moment that will only ratchet up the intensity in an already fraught election year.
America has always been a fiercely fractured nation, but those divisions have heightened immeasurably over the past few years.
People now see their opponents as enemies. Many don’t trust the motives or actions of “the other side”, while ideological views are expressed through violence.
With four months until the election and just days until the Republican National Convention, this attack will reshape the contours of the race.
Trump has deliberately kept a relatively low profile since , but the convention is a key moment for the 78-year-old Republican, who will be formally announced as the party’s official candidate for the White House alongside his pick for vice presidential running mate.
, who has been noticeably absent for months, is also expected to make an appearance at the highly anticipated event.
US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley gives an update from Washington DC.
As Republicans descended on Milwaukee, the Biden campaign was set to bolster its attacks on the former president, hoping to swing focus back on Trump’s flaws after a disastrous few weeks post-debate.
Now the campaign has paused “all outbound communications” and is working to “pull down our television ads as quickly as possible”.
Biden, meanwhile, has urged the country to unite, declaring that “there is no place in America for this kind of violence”.
But is there any escaping it?
A few months ago, shortly after a man set himself on fire outside the courtroom where I was covering Donald Trump’s trial, I dusted off my gas mask, riot gear and first aid kit – typical tools for a foreign correspondent – and popped them into my travel bag.
It felt a bit unnecessary at the time. After today, it no longer does.
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Source link : https://amp.smh.com.au/world/north-america/attempt-on-trump-s-life-was-only-a-matter-of-time-20240714-p5jtis.html
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Publish date : 2024-07-14 00:06:57
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