Donald Trump has always presented himself as a fearless, tough guy, but someone got in his head, and with the former president making an admission, I never thought I would hear from Trump.
During a recent interview, Trump admitted that he does not always feel safe on the campaign trail, a staggering confession considering his persona.
Talking Points…
- Attacks on Trump's life
- Trump's stunning admission
- Analysis
On July 13, 2024, the first attempt was made on Donald Trump's life. While appearing at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, a 20-year-old shooter had accessed the grounds hours before the rally. The shooter set off metal detectors with a ranger finder, yet he was still permitted to roam the grounds freely. Authorities noticed his suspicious activity numerous times, but he was never taken into custody.
While being spotted by spectators, the shooter managed to climb the roof of a building with a clear line of sight to Trump, then proceeded to take eight shots before a Secret Service Counter Sniper Team shooter took him out. Trump was shot in the ear, two audience members were shot, and one audience member was killed.
In addition to the failings before the shots were taken, there were also issues with Trump's cover and transport move. Without rehashing them again, it was clear the agents assigned to Trump were either substitute agents from another agency, inexperienced, or just not trained properly. Whatever the reason, the failings of the agency have led to severe scrutiny from a bipartisan Senate committee, which is currently investigating the assassination.
On September 15, 2024, there was yet another attempt on Trump's life, only this time, the shooter was unable to get shots off. While playing golf at Trump's West Palm Beach course, agents noticed a gun barrel sticking out from the fence and opened fire. The shooter fled, but witness accounts allowed authorities to quickly apprehend the suspect.
Again, however, there were numerous shortcomings in terms of the protective detail. For instance, why was there no security sweep of the course prior to Trump's arrival? Why was there no overhead drone coverage? Again, this left members of Congress asking serious questions about the Secret Service's ability to properly protect presidential candidates, former presidents, and sitting presidents.
Trump has always liked to act like a tough guy, but his campaign had clearly been working on making Trump appear more personable to voters. Trump admitting that he did not feel safe is not something he ever would have said in 2016 or 2020, but his campaign has clearly evolved. While being interviewed by former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, Trump did just that, however. The former president stated:
"I'm in a very dangerous position and, sadly, it's only consequential presidents that this happens to.
"I have a lot of enemies because I'm doing the right thing. This 'MAGA' is a great thing because it says it better than anything anybody can say. I want to make America great again, and that's what we're doing. We have more support, I think, than anybody's ever had, and I think we're going to have a great election."
Trump also placed blame for the assassination attempts directly on Democrats and their rhetoric, regularly portraying Trump as a danger to democracy and the entire world. On this, Trump stated:
"He [the shooter] believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.
"Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out."
This is the type of interview that Donald Trump needs to do more of, to be perfectly honest. Democrats and the media have literally made him out to be a monster, which is why they get so angry when he brings his grandkids on stage or has pictures taken with them. They never want him to appear to have a softer side, but an admission like this serves the same purpose; it just shows a human side of him most media outlets will never show. The way Trump paired his feelings with saying he is just doing what is right is masterful, and I think it will absolutely win over some people who were on the fence about voting for him.
