Former US President Donald Trump has recently suggested that the aggressive rhetoric coming from the Democratic party, which depicts him as a threat to electoral democracy, may have contributed to recent attempts on his life. This theory was brought up in light of two separate incidents: one at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania in mid-July where a bullet fragment grazed Trump’s ear, and another at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a gunman was detained nearby shortly after fleeing from Secret Service agents.
In an interview with X Spaces on Monday, Trump discussed the dramatic events and made clear that he believed both incidents were politically motivated. He pointed to the fact that the suspects involved in each instance appeared to be radical leftists, and mentioned how the Democratic Party’s leadership has been branding the Republican candidate as a would-be tyrant bent on destroying the US political system.
Senior figures from the Democratic Party, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, have condemned both instances of violence targeting Trump. However, it seems the former president believes their words may be having a more nefarious impact than they intended.
During Monday’s interview, Trump praised the Secret Service and West Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office for their handling of Sunday’s incident in Florida. He reminded his audience that he survived July’s event only by happenstance and pondered possible divine intervention. There’s something going on,” he mused. Perhaps, it’s God wanting me to be president to save this country. Nobody knows.
In the meantime, both instances of violence involving Trump have raised questions about the safety and security protocols in place for high-profile political figures. As the election season heats up, it remains to be seen whether further incidents will occur or if increased protection measures will be implemented to prevent future attacks on political candidates.