In shocking scenes at his Pennsylvania General Election rally, Former US President Donald J Trump survived an assassination attempt, which left one spectator and the gunman dead, and two spectators critically injured. The FBI have released the name of the gunman as 20 year old registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The bullet pierced Trumps right ear in a narrow escape. Thankfully, Trump is reported to be physically OK, and has since been released from hospital. Questions are being asked about lapses in the security arrangements, and an urgent investigation is underway.
The Secret Service said the gunman fired “multiple shots” from an “elevated position” from outside the rally venue, and was quickly neutralised by their sniper agents. Footage at the scene showed a white-roofed factory building, about 150m from where Trump was speaking, with a body and a rifle on top.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.” The attack was the most serious attempt on a President/former President since Ronald Reagan in 1981.
In an address to the nation, President Biden said: “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick! Sick! We cannot allow for this to be happening.” Biden went on to say he would seek to speak to his Presidential rival as soon as possible, and that he had his own opinions on the failed attempt, and wouldn’t be making any further comments until he was in full receipt of the facts.
Former Presidents Obama and Bush condemned the attack, as did a host of world leaders. United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Twitter (X): “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at former President Trump’s rally, and we send him and his family our best wishes. Political violence in any form has no place in our societies, and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
Many MAGA Republicans quickly sought to blame the violence on President Biden and the Democrats, arguing that attacks on Trump being a threat to democracy had created a toxic environment. Whilst not advocating the attempt on Trump’s life, Democrat’s hit back reminding the Maga Republicans of the many times Trump mocked Paul Pelosi over the hammer attack he suffered at his home by a MAGA supporter. Paul Pelosi is the husband of former Democrat House Leader Nancy Pelosi, who’s been a fierce critic of the former President.
Quite how this will play out in the Presidential campaign remains to be seen. Will this change Trump’s fiery campaign approach? How will this effect growing Democrat calls for 81 year old President Joe Biden to step aside, because of his growing frailty?
Thomas Matthew Crooks – 20 years old
Opinion: This is a shocking development in the US Presidential race, and one which shouldn’t be happening in a functioning democracy. I’m not Trump’s biggest fan by a long chalk, but no democratically elected political leaders should have this happen to them, so I too roundly condemn this senseless and terrifying attack.
Growing Far Right populism across America and Europe has been threatening to boil over for some time, and last night it exploded with catastrophic consequences. A few days ago, I called for Centrist Moderates not to ignore the extremist policies of the likes of Trump, Farage, Le Pen, Wilders, Orban, Bolsanaro and Putin, but to instead address them head on and regain the political narrative from the Far Right.
This shocking event which claimed two lives also throws America’s liberal and constitutionally protected gun laws into the spotlight again. Trump has previously received huge backing from the National Rifle Association (NRA), hence his resolute defence of the second amendment right to bear arms.
Will last night’s incident move the dial on the gun control debate in America, or further stiffen the resolve of their wealthy, well organised and politically connected gun lobby? Where does America stand today with “The only way to stop a bad man with a gun, is with a good man with a gun”? My hope is that something positive will come out of this tragic episode in America’s long running history with domestic gun violence.
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