How two failed assassination attempts affected Trump’s election campaign

Donald Trump appeared on stage at a rally on Long Island last month to talk about taxes. The former president seemed momentarily worried by something he saw when he looked back.

“I thought it was some ‘smart guy’ trying to step forward,” he explained, joking that he was preparing to throw his elbow to fight back.

“You know I have a bit of a problem with the yip syndrome, right?”, Trump added, referring to a term familiar to golf enthusiasts to describe the phenomenon in which players suddenly lose the ability to perform certain tasks. the shot is as easy as putting because of nervousness. “But I’m ready to fight.”

It was a moment that was meant to be a joke. But when the former president returns to Butler County, Pennsylvania, this weekend to hold a rally at the site of his attempted assassination in late July, this anxiety is evidence of the long-term implications that Republican candidate and his campaign, even as much of the public has turned its attention to other crises.

In addition to two failed assassination attempts within two months, Trump also suffered from continuous threats from Iran, according to information provided to his campaign by US officials. Tehran has announced it will retaliate against Trump because he ordered the US military to kill Islamic Revolutionary Guard general Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

In August, a Pakistani man believed to have ties to Iran was accused of plotting to carry out political assassinations on US soil. Law enforcement did not name the targets, but legal filings show Trump was an easy target.

Iranian hackers are also accused of stealing information from Trump’s campaign and trying to pass it on to the media. In May, a group of hackers successfully broke into the email accounts of campaign officials and other allies of the former president, prosecutors said. They then sought to “weaponize” the stolen campaign documents by emailing people associated with President Biden’s campaign.

Cyberattacks forced some Trump campaign staffers to change email addresses. Many people are nervous when communicating online.

That exacerbates already high anxiety, despite the increased security apparatus. Trump’s staff are under more stress than ever. There have been death threats aimed at Trump’s aides and they have not been able to quickly organize the large-scale rallies that have always been a feature of the former president’s election campaigns.

Armed security guards now guard Trump’s campaign headquarters in Florida around the clock. Staff are constantly required to be alert and aware of their surroundings.

Many events have been canceled and relocated because the US Secret Service does not have enough resources to keep them safe. Even with the use of bulletproof glass barriers to protect Trump on stage, there are still concerns that attackers could target the former president with drones.

Mr. Trump accused President Joe Biden’s administration of deliberately refusing to provide security resources to prevent him from speaking in public, thereby giving an advantage to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.

“They don’t help me at all. I’m very angry because what they are doing is election interference,” he said in a recent interview with Fox News.

Meanwhile, US Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Trump “is receiving an enhanced level of protection”, affirming their top priority is “to minimize risks to ensure the safety of the former president.” anytime, anywhere”.

Trump now travels with a larger security force. New traffic restrictions have been imposed outside his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and a line of security vehicles and gun-toting security guards are always on duty outside Trump Tower in New York when he stayed here.

The former president’s allies insist he has not changed after being shot through the ear in July or when he was nearly assassinated at a West Palm Beach golf course in September.

According to them, the image of Trump standing tall with blood on his face, raising his fist and shouting “Fight!” has become an indelible symbol of the election campaign.

“When you almost lose your life, the feeling at that moment will always follow you and it is still in him,” said Republican congressman Byron Donalds, a close ally of the former president. “But it cannot change Trump’s determination. He is still as strong as before.”

As for Trump, he often mentions “God’s intervention hand”, implying that God saved him to save the country. He also said that the attackers only targeted influential presidents.

Trump was recently asked if he was worried about his safety before returning to Butler. “Yes, I’m always worried,” he replied.

“I came back to Butler because I felt I had an obligation to come back. We never finished what we were supposed to do here,” Trump said. “When I got shot, I said, we’ll be back. I’m fulfilling a promise. I’m actually fulfilling a duty.”

Loyal supporters also do not hesitate to attend rallies, despite the security risks.

“I know there are many people who are afraid to come, but not me,” said nurse Eileen Deighan, 63, from New York, adding that she was inspired by Trump’s decision to continue campaigning. despite the threats.

“The truth is that he did not give up, he was willing to fight for our country, how can we not support that,” she said.

Trump on September 28 declared to supporters at a rally in Wisconsin that he would continue to fight “no matter what obstacles or dangers come our way.”

But he also has another point to make. “I had a good life before pursuing politics. No one shot me. I had a great life.”