The attempted assassination Saturday of Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, sent shockwaves across America in part due to the brazen nature of the act and also considering the level of security detail afforded to the former president.
Trump was just getting started during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when shots rang out. Video showed Trump touching his hand to his right ear before ducking low behind the podium as rally attendees also crouched down in confusion.
Secret Service agents swarmed Trump at that point as, moments later, he stood up, raised his fist to the crowd and displayed a proud “I’m still here” stance as blood trickled from the right side of his face, traveling across his cheek to his lips.
Trump’s display was defiant, with the imagery being some of the most iconic America will ever see in its history. But the heinous act committed by the shooter — who was reportedly shot dead by a Secret Service sniper — was in many ways entirely predictable.
It was at least the fourth time since 2017 that a Republican political figure had either been openly targeted for attack or outright attacked.
There was the June 14, 2017, Congressional baseball practice mass shooting during which four people were shot, including Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was nearly killed by a deranged Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter who specifically targeted Republicans for assassination.
In June 2022, a disturbed individual allegedly armed with a gun, knife and “burglary tools” including zip ties was arrested outside the home of conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in what the suspect himself admitted was an assassination attempt ahead of an anticipated ruling that ultimately spelled the end of Roe v. Wade.
The arrest came following weeks of disturbing and in some cases violent attacks on churches and pro-life centers across the country as well as illegal “protests” outside of the homes of some of the conservative Supreme Court justices after they were doxed, with their addresses shared on social media by radical pro-abortion groups.
Per a DOJ affidavit, the suspect’s ultimate goal was to kill three conservative justices so they wouldn’t overturn the 1973 landmark abortion ruling.
I should note that all those pro-abortion “protests” including the ones that turned into violence, were encouraged by the Biden White House under the guise of “respecting the First Amendment.”
There was also the July 2022 attack on New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin, who was holding a rally when a man walked up onto the stage and “raised his arm toward Zeldin as he held a keychain with two sharp points,” as reported by The Associated Press.
There was a scuffle between the two and fortunately the man was subdued and later arrested.
And now we have the attempted assassination of Trump ahead of this week’s Republican National Convention.
While the motivations of the shooter have not been established, the incidents mentioned above and others follow a pattern of brazen attacks and threats against Republicans, which happened after incendiary rhetoric was repeatedly tossed around by Democratic officials and their affiliated special interest groups.
For instance, just days before the attack on Trump, President Joe Biden was on a phone call with panicked donors.
Per a story from Politico, he told them “I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bull’s-eye.”
After years of lecturing Republicans on the alleged use of so-called “violent rhetoric,” it’s time for Democrats and the media to look in the mirror and do some soul-searching.
The accusation was always like the pot calling the kettle black, but in the aftermath of the attempt on Trump’s life, it is now undeniable.
North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.