The political climate in the United States is volatile. Over several years, politicians, activists, and public servants on both sides of the political aisle have engaged in inflammatory rhetoric and reporting that have stoked tensions and made the divided climate even more polarized. Much of this rhetoric has surrounded the former president Donald Trump, who has been compared at times by political opponents to the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and has been deemed a grave threat to Democracy. Given the fact that major outlets continue biased reporting practices and public servants continue to utter polarizing and divisive rhetoric, it is no surprise that political violence is becoming a problem in the United States. On July 13th, strategy almost struck when the former 45th president Donald Trump was almost assassinated at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
A 20-year gunman named Thomas Matthew Crooks used an AR-15 rifle purchased by his father to attempt the killing of Trump. Crooks climbed onto the roof of a building several hundred yards away from Trump as he spoke. When rallygoers witnessed this, they notified law enforcement officials, who went to investigate. After Crooks pointed his firearm at an officer that individual hesitated, and Crooks then fired several shots at Trump, grazing his ear and missing several other times. He was then shot dead himself by Secret Service Counter Snipers. Trump remarkably survived the attack, coming inches away from a horrible death. If Trump had not turned his head moments before, he likely would have perished.
Crooks allegedly attempted to try out for a high school shooting team but was reportedly such a poor marksman that he failed to make the team after one day. Additionally, some team members claimed Crooks would make inappropriate remarks, and was asked not to return due to his behavior. Crooks was a registered Republican, had donated to a Biden-supporting group, and worked as a dietary aide at a health center.
