The second assassination attempt on Mr. Trump on the afternoon of September 15 at a golf course in Florida raised questions about the election situation in a context of political instability.
What will happen to the US election after the second assassination attempt on Mr. Trump?
According to CNN, in the past two months, former President Donald Trump has escaped assassination attempts twice, making the race for the White House more tense. In addition to concerns about the “seeds” of political violence, will this new failed assassination attempt give Donald Trump an advantage as the White House race enters its final stages?
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| Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump at Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas on September 14. Photo: AP |
Most recently, on September 15, while playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida, Mr. Trump was attacked by suspect Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who lives in Hawaii. According to the former President's campaign team, several shots were fired at him, but he was still safe. This was the second assassination attempt, after the first on July 13 at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The assassination attempt has raised concerns about political violence in the United States, especially as the presidential election nears its final stretch. The FBI has expanded its global investigation into Routh’s connections, including suspicious online activity and overseas trips, including his volunteering to provide “humanitarian aid” to Ukraine. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also pledged to conduct his own investigation into how the assassin approached former President Trump.
Immediately after the incident, President Joe Biden strongly condemned all forms of political violence and directed the US Secret Service to mobilize all resources to ensure the safety of presidential candidates, including former President Trump. Mr. Biden emphasized that there is no place for violence in American politics, and expressed relief that Mr. Trump is safe. Vice President Kamala Harris, currently Mr. Trump's biggest rival in the race for the White House, also expressed joy that the former President was not injured in the attack and condemned political violence.
Former President Trump, in his first statement since the assassination attempt, asserted that nothing could stop or slow him down. He stressed that he was targeted because he stood up for forgotten Americans, a familiar message in his campaign. Previously, after the assassination attempt in July, Mr. Trump spoke with the slogan: “Fight, fight, fight!” and was enthusiastically responded by supporters at campaign events.
The July assassination attempt boosted Trump’s support, especially since it took place during a public, televised campaign rally. The sight of the wounded but determined former president created a powerful, emotional image for voters. The incident boosted his popularity and prompted current President Joe Biden to announce he would not seek re-election. Vice President Kamala Harris has instead become the Democratic nominee, and the race for the White House between her and Trump has become more heated than ever.
While the attempted assassination at Trump’s golf course did not have the emotional impact of the July attack, it was still important in cementing his image as a leader who “stands against the establishment” trying to silence the voice of the people. However, Kamala Harris also scored a lot of points after her first live debate with Trump on September 10. According to a CNN snap poll, 63% of viewers thought Harris won, while only 37% supported Trump.
In addition, many other polls also show that Ms. Harris is leading Mr. Trump nationwide. A Reuters/Ipsos survey released on September 12 showed Ms. Harris receiving 47% support, compared to 42% for Mr. Trump. This shows the fierce competition in the race for the White House, when the time to the election is less than 2 months.
With two assassination attempts and a volatile campaign, the 2024 race for the White House has become more unpredictable than ever. The assassination attempts have not only raised security concerns but also helped change the election landscape, as candidates compete for every point to gain an advantage in the final stages.
New revelations about the man arrested in the attempted assassination of Mr. Trump
According to The Guardian, on September 16, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, the suspect in the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, was formally charged in federal court with two gun-related crimes. Mr. Routh was charged with felony possession of a firearm and possession of a gun with an obliterated serial number. These are preliminary charges aimed at keeping the suspect in custody while authorities continue their investigation.
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| Ryan Routh did not resist and did not say anything when he was arrested by police. Photo: New York Post |
The investigation is focusing on how Routh was able to get so close to the former president, causing confusion and concerns nationwide about the security of presidential candidates. According to authorities, the suspect in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at his Florida golf course may have been hiding on the golf course for nearly 12 hours before being discovered.
The incident occurred at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, where a Secret Service agent spotted the suspect’s AK-47 rifle through a tree. After the confrontation, Routh fled but was arrested a short time later in a neighboring county.
Mr Trump thanked security forces and law enforcement for stopping the attack before the suspect could open fire, writing on social media: “They did an outstanding job.” His son, Eric Trump, expressed concern for his father’s safety, and questioned how a gunman could get so close to the former president for the second time in less than two months.
House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Mr Trump after the incident and praised his resilience, saying “no leader in American history has faced so many attacks and remained strong”.
The incident further inflamed the political climate, with Trump blaming President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, calling them “the enemy within” and blaming the violence on the division they had caused. These statements sparked controversy and drew criticism from Democrats, but also received support from some Republicans.
Routh is believed to be a registered Democrat in North Carolina, but he has publicly stated on social media that he voted for Trump in 2016 and supports the presumptive Republican running mate Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 election.
According to The Guardian, Ryan Routh, the suspect in the assassination attempt, was described by his son as a man “passionate about defending Ukraine from Russian aggression.” However, investigations continue to clarify Routh’s motives, while politicians from both parties have spoken out against political violence.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, strongly condemned the violence, stating: “Violence has no place in America.” New York Attorney General Letitia James also agreed that “political violence, in any form, cannot be tolerated or normalized.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer both shared a similar message, calling for peace and respect for the democratic process. Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik also expressed concern about how a gunman was able to approach the former president twice in such a short period of time, and hoped for answers about what happened soon, especially after the first assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July.
As for Trump, he remains upbeat and determined to continue his campaign. Ronny Jackson, a Texas congressman and Trump’s former White House physician, said he spoke to the former president two hours after the incident. According to Jackson, Trump said he couldn’t believe it had happened but felt fine and had confidence in his security team.
The assassination attempt comes as the presidential race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris enters a tense phase. Harris replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee after Biden announced he would not run again. Recent polls have shown Harris leading, but the latest attack could be a game-changer, helping Trump gain support as he continues to insist he is a target of hostile forces.
Russia speaks out on Trump's attempted assassination: "Don't play with fire"
According to AFP, on August 16, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to allegations of involvement in the assassination of former US President Donald Trump, with the suspect suspected of having links to Ukraine. Mr. Peskov stressed that the US should think carefully about the consequences when dealing with such sensitive situations. "It is the US intelligence agencies who need to think carefully. Playing with fire will have consequences," he warned.
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| Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Photo: AFP |
According to CNN, Routh is said to support Ukraine and has posted many posts on social media in 2022, expressing his willingness to fight for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia. He even considered himself an unofficial contact for Ukraine, calling on foreigners, especially Afghan veterans, to join the fight. Routh's son also revealed that he had traveled to Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance to the country's military, describing his father as a caring and hard-working person.
Despite his personal ties to Ukraine, there is no clear evidence that Routh’s pro-Ukrainian views were linked to the plot to assassinate Trump. Former President Trump has repeatedly criticized the US for providing too much aid to Ukraine and has suggested turning the aid into loans. He has also asserted that, if re-elected, he would end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours by forcing the two sides to the negotiating table.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to condemn the assassination attempt and expressed relief that Trump was safe. On social media X, Zelensky was delighted to hear that Trump was safe, stressing: “The suspect was promptly detained. The rule of law is the supreme principle, and political violence has no place anywhere in the world .”
The International Protection Corps of Ukraine, a unit of foreign volunteers fighting in Ukraine, also denied any connection to Routh, insisting he had never been a member or had any contact with the organization. “Ryan Wesley Routh has never been part of the International Protection Corps, and we want to make this clear,” the corps said in a statement to Euronews.
Ukraine and Russia 'at odds' over humanitarian crisis in Kursk
According to The Kyiv Independent, on September 16, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that his country has invited the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to participate in humanitarian activities in Kiev-controlled areas of Russia's Kursk province. Specifically, Minister Andrii Sybiha instructed the Foreign Ministry to send the invitation when he visited Ukraine's Sumy province (bordering Russia's Kursk province).
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| Kiev tank crews rest while operating T-72 tanks in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 12, 2024. Photo: Getty |
“Since the first day of the operation in the Kursk region (Russia), the Ukrainian Defense Forces have strictly complied with international humanitarian law, proving that this is a professional army that values freedom and human life,” Sybiha said.
The Foreign Minister added that Ukraine is ready to facilitate humanitarian work by the United Nations and the ICRC and is ready to demonstrate Ukraine's compliance with international humanitarian law. Kiev has previously criticized the International Committee of the Red Cross for not acting strongly enough in the face of the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.
However, according to AFP, on September 16, the Kremlin considered Ukraine's invitation to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to verify the situation in areas controlled by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk province as a "provocation".
“This is essentially a provocation. And we expect a sober assessment of such provocative statements” from the United Nations and the ICRC, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Kiev has previously criticized the International Committee of the Red Cross for not acting strongly enough in the face of the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict. Since early August, as soon as it entered the Kursk region, Ukraine has declared its compliance with international humanitarian law on Russian territory.
However, The Kyiv Independent newspaper said that control over parts of Russia's territory is under threat as since last week, Russian forces have begun large-scale counterattacks in Kursk province to push Ukrainian troops away from the border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the Russian counterattack, claiming that Ukraine had planned it properly. According to the latest Russian estimates, the number of Ukrainian casualties in the operation to invade Kursk province has reached 13,800 soldiers.
US and Europe 'concerned' as Israeli Prime Minister about to replace Defense Minister
According to the Times of Israel, on the night of September 16, the Israeli security cabinet held an emergency meeting as tensions with Hezbollah increased, amid reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, replacing him with Gideon Sa'ar - leader of the New Hope party and an opposition lawmaker. This move caused great concern from the US and European countries, as they considered Minister Gallant a "key partner in negotiations", especially after Mr. Benny Gantz and Mr. Gadi Eisenkot resigned in June.
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| New Hope Party leader Gideon Sa'ar. Photo: Times of Israel |
Rumors of a personnel change have been circulating for months. In July 2024, Sa'ar's leader denied that he had accepted an invitation to join the cabinet, but when asked if he would accept the position of defense minister, he hinted that it was a possibility he would consider.
According to Channel 12, Mr. Sa'ar had requested the position, but was instead offered other positions such as Foreign Minister or Justice Minister. However, discussions for Mr. Sa'ar to take over as Defense Minister reportedly collapsed in August when Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisers lost confidence in the Sa'ar leadership.
The relationship between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Gallant has been strained since March 2023, when Mr. Gallant publicly criticized the government's judicial reform. This prompted Prime Minister Netanyahu to announce that Minister Gallant was fired, but after two weeks, he withdrew the decision due to public pressure. At the time, even the leader of Sa'ar harshly criticized the move, saying that Netanyahu was pushing Israel "into the abyss."
If Mr Sa'ar accepts the defence minister position, it would be a major shift in his political views. Meanwhile, far-right members such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have long called for Mr Gallant's dismissal and support the move.
Benny Gantz, the leader of the opposition National Unity Party, was less optimistic, accusing the Prime Minister of “despicable political plans and the replacement of the defense minister” without focusing on “victory over Hamas, the return of the hostages, the war with Hezbollah and the safe return of the northern people to their homes.”
At the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, representatives of families of those kidnapped by Hamas also expressed concern, saying: “Instead of focusing on rescuing the hostages, Netanyahu is spending his time adjusting the cabinet.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s final decision will have profound implications for Israel’s political future and its ability to deal with current security challenges. As tensions with Hezbollah continue to escalate, a change in government could further complicate the situation, affecting regional stability and Israel’s diplomatic efforts.
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