Donald Trump is safe after a new incident, according to his campaign headquarters. The suspect was arrested at Trump’s golf course in Florida on September 15. The FBI classified it as an attempt on the life of the former US president and current Republican Party candidate.
Radio Liberty writes about this.
The incident comes just two months after an earlier attack on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, which raised questions about the safety of politicians ahead of the November 5 election.
This has proven to be a difficult time for Trump. A recent debate with Kamala Harris, the vice president and Democratic nominee, brought him bad news. In addition, his controversial comments about Haitian migrants allegedly threatening American cities sparked widespread public outcry and became the subject of jokes in the media. However, the new assassination attempt could divert attention from his controversial statements to more serious issues.
Changing the focus of the campaign
The incident could allow Trump’s team to refocus the election debate on issues of public safety, threats of political violence, and the rule of law. They may well try to link their opponents’ rhetoric to the escalating tension in the country. Trump has already made a statement that the attack against him was the result of “hostile rhetoric” by President Biden and Kamala Harris. According to him, the attacker acted under the influence of their statements, which were interpreted as a call to act against him.
Trump emphasizes that his intention is to save the country, while his opponents, in his opinion, are destroying it from within. The announcement could reinforce his support among his supporters who perceive him as a protector against internal and external threats.
Greater security
Following the first attempt on Trump’s life in Pennsylvania, Republican Party members called for the resignation of Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle, who is responsible for protecting key politicians. Although the Secret Service acted quickly and prevented another attack, this case may be a reason to increase security measures for presidential candidates, especially during the election period.
However, critics, including Fox News, pointed out that even though the threat was quickly averted, the shooter was still able to shoot through a fence before being subdued. This fact may spark a debate about the need for tighter security measures.
Implications for the campaign
The new incident is likely to force Trump to change his approach to the election campaign. He could reduce public appearances and emphasize digital platforms to communicate with voters. Against the backdrop of increasing political violence, which is widely covered by the media, this may become a necessary measure to preserve the candidate’s safety.
The political environment in the United States is already extremely polarized, and the assassination attempt only increases these tensions. President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have already condemned the incident as an act of political violence, but the public reaction to the incident will be mixed. Trump supporters will see him as a victim of violence, which could deepen their sympathy for him, while his opponents may interpret the event as proof of how polarizing a leader Trump is.
The role of foreign policy
An interesting aspect of this incident is the identity of the attacker. He turned out to be 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Ruth, originally from Hawaii and with a criminal past. He criticized Trump on social media, although he claimed to have supported him in 2016. His views also included pro-Ukrainian positions, which adds an international context to this case related to the situation in Ukraine.
Thus, a second attempt on Trump’s life could not only change the course of his election campaign, but also exacerbate political polarization in the United States, making the upcoming elections even more tense.
Cursor previously reported that the person accused of trying to assassinate Trump wrote a book calling for anti-Iran action.
Ryan Wesley Routh in his book called on Iran to kill the former US president.
