Two assassination bids, a different Trump each time

THE two assassination bids on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are now hot campaign news in the US. When his ear was nicked in the first attempt on July 13, he defiantly pumped his fists in the air and left the stage unfazed. At that time, a non-threatening Joe Biden was his opponent, so Trump didn’t care much to accuse or implicate him when this happened.

When Trump addressed a rally after that narrow escape, he was gracious all over. He thanked people for their support and said he would recount that event just once and never again, for it was too painful. He even praised his security detail, but nowhere did he accuse Biden, directly or indirectly, for what happened.

Trump also said at the time that he felt safe as “I had God on my side”. He could have added that Biden, too, made him feel safe. All that seems like long ago, especially after Trump’s loss to Kamala Harris in the debate. This still rankles, for Trump also took a shot at ABC News for being partial to Kamala, the ‘Marxist’.

That was then and this is now. When the second attempt took place, though no bullet was fired, Trump reacted differently. Short of putting on war paint, his demeanour was aggressive all the way. He blasted Kamala and the ‘radical lefts’ by her side and said that on their account “bullets are flying and it will get worse.” Very ominous, indeed!

It is clear that Trump is missing Biden, who was like a tethered bait bleating to be killed. Instead, he now has a feisty and very credible challenger before him. Kamala is no Biden and could plausibly steal the presidency from him. Predictably, Trump did not take kindly to this and scattershot every barb he could summon at Kamala.

Biden, though, gets a free pass. Trump actually praised him for the concern he showed when news of the second failed assassination became known. “Biden was very nice,” Trump said, “he called up to make sure I was okay… couldn’t have been nicer.” Without Biden in the race, Trump’s campaign has become more difficult.

First Elon Musk and then JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, went for overkill and damaged Trump’s chances to leverage the aborted assassination. They loudly wondered why Kamala and Biden were so far unharmed and not in the crosshairs of somebody’s rifle. This kind of veiled insinuation upset many.

The slight bump in Trump’s ratings after the second assassination bid soon levelled out because of Vance and Musk. Worse, encouraged by Trump and his allies, following the second foiled attempt on his life, right-wing militias, led by a group called the Proud Boys, started patrolling the streets of Springfield, Ohio, and threatening migrants.

So far, there have been about 30 bomb threats there, creating a pall of imminent violence. Even though Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican like Trump, has said there is no evidence of Haitian migrants eating pet dogs and cats, 80 per cent of Trump’s supporters believe they do, because he said so in his debate against Kamala.

Many of those who call themselves the Proud Boys were also involved in the Capitol Hill insurrection nearly four years ago. They were the hammer heads of the wrecking crew that went berserk that day. Soon after, for the record, Trump pardoned one Roger Stone, a Proud Boys mentor, who was convicted for stoking the mob on Capitol Hill.

Trump’s ability to command and control his crowd is primarily because he speaks a language that tugs at sentiments bereft of deliberation. He spouts a mother’s milk ideology that harks back to fixed stereotypes that seem to comprehensively explain away complexities.

His credibility with his followers is of cultish proportions. The more he alleges that Kamala’s left rhetoric kindled violence, the more he points at migrants eating pets or Democrats killing babies, the stronger his base gets. Inversely, such statements also firm up the opposing side for they find Trump too bold and brazen.

This is why in the coming elections, there will be no waverers. Trump has made sure of that; you either love him or hate him, nothing in between. So, whether the election is held today or in November, the outcome will be the same. Of course, neither side can let go, because you need energetic supporters to pull the lethargic ones to come out and vote.

The real winner in the wake of the second go at Trump’s life is the Secret Service. It’s like Christmas come early for them. Biden from the White House, Kamala and Trump in between stump speeches, are all asking for more money and resources for this establishment. For the bosses of the Secret Service, it’s a dream come true.

There is, however, a wrinkle which Trump’s current aggressive stance gives us a foretaste of. He has also said that should he lose, there may even be a ‘bloodbath’. In all likelihood, this is protein shake talk for cosmetic muscle bulk and nothing really dramatic will happen. On the other hand, the race is so even, Trump may well win.

In which case, will gangs like the Proud Boys be out of work?