The shocking assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump continues to capture global attention. Despite more information being revealed about the 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, his motive remains unclear, and many questions linger. As the U.S. Secret Service faces scrutiny for potential lapses, the country’s political divide is deepening. U.S. media described an atmosphere filled with anger, resentment, suspicion, and blame within minutes of the shooting. Amid Republican accusations, President Joe Biden delivered a rare speech from the Oval Office on the evening of the 14th, condemning political violence and urging calm, stating that politics “must never become a battleground.” However, the shooting, which resulted in one death and two serious injuries, has cast a shadow over the Republican National Convention set to open on the 15th. The Wall Street Journal on the 15th remarked, “Trump’s attack exposes deep political issues in America.” While calls for calm followed the assassination attempt, political division and tension persist, with fear and violence still looming over the U.S.
Biden’s Rare Speech Condemning Political Violence
“My fellow Americans, tonight I want to tell you that we need to lower our political temperature. Remember, while we may have differences, we are not enemies,” Biden said in his speech on the 14th. “Most importantly, we are all Americans and must unite.” Biden noted that he had spoken to Trump on the evening of the 13th, saying, “Thankfully, Trump was not seriously injured… I am glad he is okay.” Biden emphasized that political violence is “absolutely unacceptable.” He mentioned that political rhetoric in America has become extremely heated and that it is time to calm down, urging everyone to take responsibility.
The Associated Press reported that “fierce Republican rhetoric forced Biden to make a rare nationwide address from the Oval Office on Sunday, calling on Americans to ‘cool down.'” Biden’s speech came as Republicans blamed the attack on Trump on Biden and the Democrats. Ohio Republican Senator Vance, who is on Trump’s “vice-presidential candidate list,” claimed that Biden’s campaign rhetoric directly led to the assassination attempt on Trump. The report cited Biden’s campaign team, which commented that Biden had recently told donors it was time to “put Trump in the crosshairs,” although he meant it in the context of urging Democrats to focus on defeating Trump. Georgetown University political science professor Michael Bailey told the Associated Press that “both parties have used very intense rhetoric in recent years.”
The Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao editorial on the 15th stated, “Trump’s assassination attempt warns of the extreme consequences of political rhetoric.” From societal to political arenas, the left and right wings in the U.S. have competed for ideological and support bases in policy and public opinion for decades, gradually weakening America’s core values and unity. In recent years, incidents from the George Floyd case, which sparked nationwide protests, to the attack on the Capitol have highlighted the politicization of social issues and the extreme political stances taken. Perhaps more than the proliferation of guns, these are the root causes of political violence.
The 20-Year-Old Lone Gunman’s Motive Remains a Mystery
While the political debate surrounding the shooting continues, the case is still in its early stages of investigation, with the gunman’s motive unclear. According to the Associated Press, FBI Assistant Director Robert Wells said on the 14th that the bureau is investigating the case as an “attempted assassination” and is also considering it a potential act of “domestic terrorism.”
“Suspect nearly killed Trump, but left no clues,” Reuters reported on the 14th. The FBI stated that Crooks’ social media profiles contained no threatening language, nor was there evidence of mental health issues. He used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle purchased by his father and had explosives in his car. Although he acted alone, his “ideological” ties and motives remain undetermined. Public records show that Crooks’ mother is a Democrat and his father is a Republican, but as a registered Republican, Crooks had once donated $15 to a pro-Democratic group.
“How did a 20-year-old lone gunman manage to secure an unobstructed shooting position on an open rooftop just a football field away from the former president?” The Wall Street Journal on the 15th called the incident “the most severe lapse of the U.S. Secret Service in decades.” According to the Washington Post, members of Congress announced on the 14th that they would investigate the shooting. Biden said on the 14th that as a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump has been granted higher-level security. He has directed the Secret Service to provide Trump with “all resources” to ensure his safety and instructed the Secret Service Director to assess all security measures for the Republican National Convention. FBI officials also stated they are closely monitoring the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions and have not found any public safety issues related to the aftermath of the shooting.
Increased Security for the Republican National Convention
The 2024 Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the 15th to the 18th, with over 50,000 participants expected. According to Fox News on the 14th, security around the venue has been heightened, with multiple layers of security checks required to enter, barricades blocking many surrounding streets, and visible police presence everywhere, including overhead helicopters.
Trump arrived in Milwaukee on the 14th, stating on social media that he initially planned to delay his trip by two days but decided, “I will not let ‘the shooter’ or potential assassins force me to change my schedule or anything else.” He is expected to speak on the evening of the 18th and accept the Republican presidential nomination. “This speech will be very different, unlike the speech from two days ago,” Trump told the Washington Examiner in an interview on the second day after the assassination attempt, revealing he has begun rewriting his speech for the convention to focus on “national unity” rather than attacking Biden. The report noted that if Trump talks about uniting the country in Milwaukee, it would mirror former President Reagan’s response after his assassination attempt in 1981.
According to Bloomberg on the 15th, insiders revealed that Trump called his former rival Haley, inviting her to the Republican National Convention. Haley was second to Trump in the Republican primaries earlier this year. Trump’s invitation to Haley is seen as an attempt to unite the Republican Party. The Associated Press quoted Haley’s spokesperson, saying Haley was initially not invited but was later added to the list of speakers and will give a speech on Tuesday. Last week, Haley stated that she would encourage her supporters to back Trump, calling the convention a “moment for Republican unity.”
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