In an unprecedented display of political instability, violence has increasingly become intertwined with American politics, marking a shift from isolated incidents to a recurrent and alarming pattern. On September 15, 2024, another apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump unfolded in Florida, bringing the nation one step closer to what many fear will be a “tinderbox election” just 50 days away.
This most recent event occurred at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club, where Secret Service agents fired shots at a man brandishing a rifle. The suspect, who fled the scene but was later apprehended, left behind two backpacks containing an AK-47-style firearm and a GoPro camera, indicating a possible intention to record Trump’s murder. This is the second such incident within months, with the earlier one in Pennsylvania, where Trump narrowly escaped injury but a supporter was killed.
These events signal a troubling trend in US political life, one in which violence and intimidation have increasingly become tools in the electoral process, threatening the stability of the nation’s democracy.
The Pennsylvania Incident: A Turning Point?
The assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, nine weeks earlier, stands out as a pivotal moment in the current political climate. During a Trump rally, a bullet grazed the former president’s ear, killing a supporter in the process. Trump’s reaction—bloodied but defiant—saw him urging his base to “Fight!” in what was interpreted by some as a rallying cry for more intense political battles.
A week later, however, Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite the gravity of the attack, it seemed to fade from the national consciousness, overshadowed by other news cycles and receiving scant mention in the following debate. Critics, such as Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump aide, lamented that the incident was quickly “memory-holed” and forgotten in the broader political discourse.
What transpired in Pennsylvania serves as a reminder of the increasing normalization of political violence in the United States. Beyond the question of partisan allegiance, this resurgence in violence is symptomatic of a deeper malaise afflicting the country’s political environment.
The Historical Context of Political Violence
Political violence is far from a new phenomenon in the US, but recent years have seen it become a disturbingly consistent feature of public life. From the Charlottesville march in 2017, where white supremacists clashed with activists and a civil rights advocate was killed, to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, the country has witnessed a string of violent incidents connected to political extremism.
Notable attacks include the hammer assault on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and numerous threats against members of Congress, judges, and other public officials. This uptick in violent threats reflects an erosion of civic norms and a heightened level of hostility that now permeates the political process.
As the documentary film The Last Republican illustrates through its coverage of the death threats received by Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a vocal critic of Trump, these threats are often graphic and violent in nature. One message, laden with homophobic slurs, explicitly threatened his life and underscored how personal safety has become a central concern for those involved in politics.
The 2024 Election: A Perilous Road Ahead
With just weeks until the 2024 presidential election, tensions continue to mount, driven by a combination of extreme polarization, disinformation, and the potential for widespread violence. Analysts have expressed concerns that the upcoming election could see unprecedented civil unrest, with poll workers potentially facing harassment and violent intimidation.
False rumors, such as the recent allegations that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, have sparked bomb threats and school closures, showing how dangerous propaganda can stoke fear and aggression. Such misinformation serves to inflame existing divisions and push the nation towards further conflict.
A survey by the University of Chicago conducted in June 2024 found that 10% of American adults support violence against Trump, while 6.9% favor violence in his defense. This troubling statistic indicates a growing tolerance for political violence across the ideological spectrum, though the Republican Party, led by Trump, has been accused of actively encouraging such behavior.
At rallies and public events, Trump has repeatedly used incendiary rhetoric, calling for shoplifters to be shot, joking about the hammer attack on Pelosi, and warning of a potential “bloodbath” if he does not win the election. His language, steeped in violent imagery, only exacerbates the national crisis of political instability.
Republican Rhetoric: Fanning the Flames?
Though political violence has emerged across the ideological spectrum, only one of the two major parties seems to be actively fanning the flames. Trump’s rhetorical provocations have been cited as a key factor in normalizing violence within political discourse.
His mocking of the attack on Pelosi and calls for disloyal generals to be executed reflect a broader strategy that capitalizes on the anger and disillusionment of his base. Even as his legal battles mount, with multiple criminal cases looming, Trump remains defiant, casting himself as a martyr for the cause. In his reaction to the most recent assassination attempt, Trump sent out emails and text messages proclaiming, “I will not stop fighting for you. I will Never Surrender!”—an effort that also doubled as a fundraising appeal.
This combative posture, along with Republican calls for enhanced “election integrity” measures, may lead to widespread violence against poll workers and further undermine trust in the electoral process. Opinion polls suggest that the election outcome will be close, and many worry that this closeness will provide ample ground for disinformation and distrust to flourish, amplified by platforms like Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).
What Happens Next?
Political observers fear that the upcoming election could result in multiple January 6th-like incidents across the nation, particularly if Harris narrowly wins the Electoral College. Patrick Gaspard, a former White House official, has warned that the country could see violence erupt at state capitols and other political hubs, with the potential for serious civil unrest if the outcome is disputed.
Polling by Reuters/Ipsos in May 2024 revealed that more than two-thirds of Americans are concerned about extremist violence in the aftermath of the election. Such fears are grounded in the knowledge that the nation is in the grip of a deep political divide, with gun ownership far outstripping the population and extremist rhetoric flooding the discourse.
As the election nears, both the Biden-Harris administration and prominent Republican figures have rightly condemned the attempts on Trump’s life. Despite Trump’s deep unpopularity among many Democrats, his safety remains a matter of national importance. The precedent of violence as a political tool is dangerous no matter who the target may be.
At the same time, however, Trump’s incendiary statements and refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power leave the nation on edge. In a climate where disinformation and violent ideologies are rampant, and where legal accountability for past wrongs remains in question, the fear is that this election could become a flashpoint for even greater upheaval.
Conclusion: The Fragility of American Democracy
The rise of political violence in America is a stark warning of the fragility of its democracy. What once seemed like isolated acts of extremism have evolved into a persistent feature of political life, exacerbated by deep polarization, disinformation, and a culture increasingly tolerant of violent rhetoric.
As the 2024 election looms, the stakes have never been higher. The assassination attempts on Trump underscore the volatility of the moment, while the specter of more civil unrest threatens the integrity of the democratic process. America’s future depends on whether the nation can navigate this period of instability without descending into further violence.
The world will be watching as the US confronts this challenge, one that will test the strength of its institutions, the rule of law, and the ability of its citizens to reject violence in favor of peaceful democratic engagement.
