Trump's resurgence: This is how exactly the failed assassination attempt may alter election dynamics
In the media space, there is increasing talk that the shooting of Donald Trump may significantly enhance his chances of winning the upcoming presidential election in the USA. The Nexta agency suggests that there might be a repeat of 1984 when Ronald Reagan secured a landslide victory after a failed assassination attempt.
14 July 2024 11:03
The Nexta agency published an old map of support for Ronald Reagan during the 1984 presidential elections in the United States. At the end of March 1981, there was an assassination attempt on Reagan as he left the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The President was shot then - and similarly now, Donald Trump - and three years later, he achieved a landslide victory in the elections. The Nexta agency suggests that the same might happen for Trump.
Trump's chances of winning the election are increasing
Professor of political science at Vilnius University, Tomas Janeliunas, assesses that the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at the rally has guaranteed him victory in the November presidential election in the USA. According to him, the rule of the Democratic Party in the United States is over.
"The time for Republican rule is coming, and not just in the White House but probably also in the Senate and the House of Representatives," wrote the Lithuanian political scientist on Facebook. "We have to prepare for that," he added.
A similar view is shared by Americanist and political scientist Prof. Zbigniew Lewicki said: "Here we are dealing with a failed assassination, but there is no doubt that voters will react - they will think that if someone wants to kill Trump, we need to help him, vote for him."
He noted that such events always cause an increase in sympathy for the victim of the failed or successful assassination attempts, as seen after the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. He also added that recently, the Republican candidate had been gaining support, while the current president, Democratic candidate Joe Biden, had been losing.
"While one may have reservations about Trump's expected policies, we see that Joe Biden is unable to perform the most important function in the United States and the world. Despite all the sympathy one might have for Biden, this string of false statements and theories he comes up with would disqualify any other candidate," said the expert.
Germans forecast a change in campaign dynamics
"The gunshots at the election rally targeting former US President Donald Trump will undoubtedly change the dynamics of the election campaign. The only question is in which direction," wrote the weekly "Der Spiegel" on Sunday.
According to the newspaper, "the failed assassination attempt on Trump will further agitate an already highly charged country."
The newspaper states that Trump immediately realized how "political and symbolic" the attack on him was. "Even when he was being led to an armoured limousine by Secret Service agents after the shots, he raised his fist and shouted to the crowd: 'Fight, fight.' His fans responded by chanting 'USA, USA,'" summarized "Der Spiegel."
Brits agree on Trump
The British newspapers "Daily Telegraph" and "Financial Times" share the same opinion - the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at the election rally could paradoxically increase his chances of winning the upcoming presidential election in the United States.
The "Daily Telegraph" describes this event as the most significant moment in American politics in decades. The newspaper argues that history shows such a situation could facilitate Trump's return to the White House.
The "Financial Times," which is more cautious in its forecasts, states that the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania will likely strengthen the former president's image as a martyr. It also cites statements from Republican Party politicians convinced that Trump is now unbeatable. The paper also features the opinion of Rob Casey from Signum Global Advisers, a political analysis firm. Casey assessed that "this event has the potential to increase support for former President Trump, highlighting his vigour, motivating his base, and generating sympathy for him."
However, Casey notes that this event could also somewhat help Biden by diverting some attention away from his age and doubts about his mental fitness, reducing the pressure on him to withdraw from the re-election race.