Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt with only a minor injury to his ear while campaigning in Pennsylvania on Saturday, a dramatic event that will definitely boost his standing in the 2024 presidential election.
The 78-year-old presumptive Republican presidential nominee was addressing supporters when gunshots rang out.
Secret Service agents quickly intervened, pulling Trump off the stage as blood was seen on his right ear. Despite his injuries, Trump raised a fist to the crowd before being escorted away.
The gunman, positioned on a nearby roof, was killed by Secret Service personnel. One rally attendee was killed, and two others were critically injured.
Just as news broke about a violent incident, Tesla's billionaire CEO Elon Musk publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the first time in the presidential race, calling him "tough."
He drew a parallel to Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 campaign, tweeting,
"I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery... Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt," he added in seperate posts.
Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
On October 14, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, who was running as a third-party candidate for the Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party, was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin, John Flammang Schrank, while campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Despite being shot, Roosevelt famously continued a 90-minute speech with the bullet still in his body, demonstrating his toughness and resilience.
His opening remarks included, "It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose."
In US politics, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. The bullet that nearly missed Trump likely killed Biden's re-election bid in this race.
Historically, surviving assassination attempts has boosted political figures.
Besides Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson and Ronald Reagan saw surges in support after such incidents.
The assassination attempt on Andrew Jackson by Richard Lawrence reinforced his image as a strong and resilient leader in the public's eyes.
Ronald Reagan’s approval ratings soared after he was shot by John Hinckley Jr. His quick recovery and return to work, along with his humor and resilience, positively impacted public perception, with his approval ratings jumping from about 60% to 73% following the incident.
Trump’s campaign might see a similar boost, as he knows how to ride such events. This incident will validate a strong sentiment among Trump supporters and far-right factions that they are being delegitimized and are on the defensive.
Before the incident, Trump led Biden by a narrow margin in national polls. Since the attempt, prediction market Polymarket saw Trump’s chances of winning the election hit an all-time high of 70%.
Politicians across the spectrum, including President Joe Biden, condemned the violence and expressed support for Trump.
"There’s no place for this kind of violence in the US," Biden stated.
Since the founding of the United States, four presidents and one candidate have been assassinated:
- Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
- James Garfield in 1881.
- William McKinley in 1901
- John F Kennedy in 1965
- Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy in 1968
Seven others have faced assassination attempts:
- Franklin D Roosevelt in 1933.
- Harry S Truman in 1950.
- Gerald Ford in 1975.
- Ronald Reagan in 1981.
- George W Bush in 2005.
- Then-candidate Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.
- Candidate George Wallace in 1972.
I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
