Trump attempted assassination reshapes American political landscape

Sahar Zahran , Monday 15 Jul 2024

The controversial figure, former US President Donald Trump has dominated news headlines, eclipsing reports of wars and international conflicts, after narrowly escaping a fatal bullet, turning the incident into a compelling story.

Trump
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. AFP

 

This bullet has boosted his standing more than any campaign or advertisement he could have planned. Polls indicate the rise of his chances of winning the presidential election by 69 percent.

As a bonus for Trump, the Biden campaign has withdrawn all television ads targeting him, significantly strengthening his electoral position.

Accordingly, Trump has become a hero to many, gaining voters’ sympathy and support.

Political analysts agree that this incident will have profound and long-lasting effects on the American political scene, significantly enhancing Trump’s prospects in the upcoming election and increasing his popularity among supporters.

Paul Salem, president of the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that the attempted assassination would significantly boost Trump’s electoral chances, noting that his survival of such an attempt would make him a hero to his supporters, much like former President Ronald Reagan after his attempted assassination.

Salem emphasized that Trump will not withdraw from the electoral race but will continue his campaign with greater vigour.

He further asserted that the failed attempt spared America from a significant disaster, as Trump’s assassination could have led to security breakdowns in certain areas.

This incident enhanced Trump's electoral prospects and temporarily shielded him from political attacks, allowing him to gain more support from his followers after the incident, he highlighted.

The current situation hinders Democrats from strongly criticizing Trump; as a result, the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party have announced a temporary suspension of electoral campaigns, he explained.

Salem added that security forces will adopt additional measures to protect Trump at upcoming events, mentioning that bulletproof glass might be used at gatherings to ensure his safety. 

Professor John Dabit, a member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Party, remarked that the incident would necessitate enhanced security measures at all Trump's gatherings and meetings. 

He expressed concern about the potential impacts of this incident on the American political scene, noting that it could mobilize some of Trump’s followers, possibly resulting in street violence.

Dabit explained that Trump’s bullying tactics against journalists, doctors, and others during his presidency from 2016 to 2020 contributed to increasing tension and division within society.

The political situation in the country needs improvement, pointing out that cooperation and understanding between different political factions are the only ways to avoid escalation and violence, he emphasized.

Dabit noted that Trump’s assassination attempt might lead to a significant rise in his popularity in the short term, especially during the Republican National Convention scheduled for next week; however, this rise does not necessarily mean it will persist until election day, as his popularity is expected to return to normal levels after some time.

He added that security considerations will become a priority in determining Trump’s electoral activities from now until election day.

Dabit underscored the importance of de-escalation instead of escalation, asserting that a responsible and unified response from political leaders could alleviate tension and enhance national unity. 

Dr. Ashley Ansara, a member of the American Republican Party and the American-Middle Eastern Coalition, affirmed that the incident has become the main focus of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service to investigate its details and implications.

He added that the incident came at a time when the American public rejects any form of political terrorism or murder while adding that some extremists might attempt this type of incident.

Ansara pointed out that Trump would use the incident for his own good to highlight the shortcomings and lack of discipline within federal security agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service.

He explained that Trump would exploit the incident as if the Democrats were trying to oust him from the elections.

"Trump is a smart man who will use this incident to strengthen his position and support to reach the White House, aiming to achieve several goals, including making changes in the federal government and removing entrenched and old elements within the American intelligence and FBI. I believe this will be his first mission if he wins the election," Ansara said.

Political analyst Sean Town explained that the image of Trump raising his fist under the American flag after being injured has already become iconic and will go down in history as a political image.

This image perfectly portrays what Trump has always aimed to show — defiant and strong but also a victim — and provides an additional contrast with current President Joe Biden, whom Republicans seek to depict as weak.

Town added that the key question is how much this incident will help Trump, as it is hard to imagine that his opponents will suddenly change their minds and support him because he survived an attempted assassination; it might only help with the small number of persuadable voters.

As for the security aspect, how the Secret Service failed to prevent the attack raises a lot of questions. But the broader issue, which will be complex for Trump, is the access to guns. It is unlikely that Republicans, for whom gun rights are a key issue, will suddenly change their stance, Town noted.

Representative Scalise, a Republican who was slightly injured in an attack on a congressional baseball game in 2017, still advocates for gun rights. Trump, a long-time advocate for gun rights, now finds himself a central figure in this debate, he explained.

If any Republican has the credibility to change their stance on guns, it would be him now, though it remains unlikely, he added.

Political analyst Dr. Tawfik Hamid said that suspicions would increase regarding the use of unethical methods by Trump’s opponents, whether through legal charges, some of which were blocked by the Supreme Court, or through intense media campaigns.

 This leads to more people questioning Trump’s political opponents' motives, thereby weakening their position and strengthening Trump’s, he added.

Hamid pointed out that the attempted assassination would also affect Trump’s media appearances, as he would need to reinforce unprecedented security measures.

He confirmed that Trump, with his strong and stubborn personality, would not easily accept giving up his presence at electoral gatherings, but strict security measures would become a necessity to ensure his safety.

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