Politically, America is in a nearly unprecedented period of polarization and tension. Over the last several years since the 2016 presidential election in which Donald Trump, a political outsider and affluent real estate, business, and reality television star from New York City achieved an upset victory over Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate who was a career politician, the political climate nationally has deteriorated. For years, mainstream media outlets on the left wing of the political spectrum have been fomenting political divisions, and making extreme comparisons of the former 45th president to abhorrent and reprehensible figures in national history. Additionally, politicians have claimed Trump is a “threat” to democracy, using inflammatory rhetoric to stoke the flames of discontent and unrest amongst the citizenry. When extreme and irresponsible political rhetoric persists at length, the dangers associated with this rhetoric become more apparent. Tragedy almost struck on Saturday, July 13th, when the former 45th President Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire at his Pennsylvania rally.
The incident was harrowing. Never before in modern American history, (and maybe even in the history of the country altogether) has a presidential candidate been attempted to be assassinated while on the campaign trail before winning a general election and entering the Oval Office. The gunman opened fire several hundred yards away from Trump on top of a building in what has been deemed thus far a serious lapse in security for the American Secret Service and local law enforcement officials in the Butler, Pennsylvania region.
In an alarming report, in an article published by Daily Mail United Kingdom, the gunman was spotted climbing a roof by rallygoers. Law enforcement officials were notified, and one approached him. After the gunman pointed his firearm at the officer, he hesitated, and then shots rang out. Allegedly, the officer was climbing up to the roof when it happened and did not possess his firearm.