Trump Blames Biden, Harris for July Assassination Attempt: Slams Gov’t Over Lack of Protection Former President
Donald Trump calls out Biden and Harris regarding lapses in his security in an assassination plot Former President Donald Trump has done it again this time-around, blaming President Joe Biden and his vice, Kamala Harris for having a lapse in his security detail during an assassination plot laid on his life this July. Trump has gone as far as to say, in an on-television interview with the host Phil McGraw, that the actions and rhetoric of the current administration have made it hard for the Secret Service to ensure his safety. He referred to the July 13th incident, he claims, as proof that is part of a wider plot against him.
July 13 Incident: A Security Breach
On July 13, a man in Pennsylvania attempted to shoot Trump with a gun at one of his rallies; afterward, a security breach put several Secret Service agents on administrative leave. No actual harm befell the former president, but the incident as such broached very important questions about the protection given to this highly visible figure, a possible Republican candidate for the presidential election of 2024.
In that angry interview, Trump said, “When this happened, people would ask, whose fault is it? I think to a certain extent, it’s Biden’s fault and Harris’s fault.” He said the Biden administration “weaponised the government” against him; in effect, he was claiming this impacted directly on how well the Secret Service can protect him.
Accusations of Undermining Security
Trump at one point suggested that Biden and Harris were deliberately creating an environment where his safety was at risk. “They were making it very difficult to have proper staffing in terms of Secret Service,” he said, pointing out what he perceives as a lack of concern for his safety. He charged that investigations against him, including by the DoJ, were taking the administration’s eye off the ball on protecting him.
The former president’s comments came in the wake of reports that the Secret Service had acknowledged lapses in his security detail and admitted that Trump’s team had raised concerns earlier that he was not being adequately protected. After the July 13 incident, the agency was reported to have tightened security around Trump to fix the evident lapses.
Linking Political Rhetoric to Violence
He links that attempt on his life with the political rhetoric applied to Biden and Harris. Trump insinuates that the constant characterization of him as a “threat to democracy” possibly by them is pumping the motivations of possible attackers. “They’re saying I’m a threat to democracy,” Trump said. The other day, they would say, standard line-just keep saying it-and you know that can get assassins or potential assassins going. Terrible thing. Maybe that bullet is because of their rhetoric.
Again, these comments are consistent with a message from Trump that he is the victim of a political vendetta, taking concrete form in this case through threats to his life. The storyline represents a belief shared by some segment of his supporters-that the media and the political elite unfairly target the former president.
The Shooter’s Motives: What the FBI Found
Against the claims by Trump, the FBI came out to release a report that disagreed with Trump’s portrait of the shooter’s motives-to wit, the attacker was described as a 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks, who acted alone and was not motivated by any ideological motives linked to the political rhetoric by Trump or his opponents.
The investigation by the FBI found that, in the months leading up to honing in on the former president, Crooks had done an inordinate amount of research on Trump and his political adversary, Joe Biden. It is reported that Crooks conducted more than 60 searches about Trump and Biden, showing a “sustained, detailed effort” to finalize his target. But the agency ultimately determined these acts were not politically ideological in nature but showed characteristics of a lone actor.
The Political and Security Implications
The political and security implications are increasing with Trump’s accusations against Biden and Harris in an already politically polarized environment. Such charges by the former president against his opponents are a reflection of the deep distrust between them over the assassination attempt. His supporters, who see Trump as the only person who is being continuously targeted by the political establishment in this, mirror their master’s distrust.
It also puts a spotlight on the exact same challenges the Secret Service faces in protecting high-profile political figures through this politically charged climate. And with Trump still playing an extremely prominent role in American politics, the agency has to walk that thin line to ensure his safety without diverting unbalanced resources away from other protectees-who also comprise current administration officials.
Conclusion: Accountability and Safety
The July 13 assassination attempt marked yet another chapter in the never-ending saga of political persecution concerning Trump. The FBI characterized it as a non-ideological act, but Trump’s accusations against Biden and Harris underlined the conspicuous feeling of vulnerability and mistrust that characterized his relations with the current administration.
The incident has helped keep in the limelight the concerns of Trump about his security and political rhetoric as a way to incite violence. But it also has shown the way all political leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations, should be secured properly. There is nothing more important than the safety of a public figure, and whatever be the political situation, it’s the coordination that needs to fall between the government and security agencies to avoid such threats. The emphasis has to fall on protection of life, protection of democratic process sans fear and violence.
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