Trump Assassination Attempts and Safety Concerns
By: Kerolos Boktor '25
In a world where risks of gun violence are high, not even politicians are safe. The former President Donald Trump, who was first shot by Thomas Matthew Crooks on July 13th, was shot at again for the second time. The attempt was made by Ryan Routh while golfing in Florida on September 15th.
Following the shooting in July, many eye witnesses claimed that they saw 20 year old Crooks on top of the roof and reported the unusual sighting to the police. Unfortunately, the police didn’t perceive this sighting as a threat and allowed Crooks to remain on the roof. This fatal mistake by the Pennsylvania police officers spiked major civil disruption alongside two innocent deaths. Later in the day, Elon Musk officially stated that he’s fully endorsing Trump and that Trump’s security along with the head of the Secret Service should immediately resign. Russian President Putin and China’s president Xi Jinping both expressed their sympathy towards the former president. The second assassination attempt fortunately didn’t harm anyone and was followed by Routh getting arrested.
After the second arrest, multiple conspiracy theories on the assassination were brought back to light. Multiple people conspired that the first assassination was planned and was used as an attempt to get Trump on the headlines. Others stated that the assassination was ordered by President Joe Biden to get rid of the competition.
New theories also emerged once the press found out that the shooter happened to be Ukrainian. Russia stated that the shooting was ordered by Ukraine in order to get rid of Trump. Other people stated that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden were involved in the second assassination attempt as well. This was due to the shooter saying that both of them should attend the funeral of Crooks (the first shooter). These are all public theories that have little evidence behind them, but compelled many Americans.
Additionally, Harris' campaign office in Arizona was shot at on September 16th by a BB gun, officers explained. The shooter has yet to be caught and the situation is currently undergoing an investigation by the Tempe police. The shooting was classified as property damage because fortunately, nobody was inside the building at the time of the shooting. However, it has raised many concerns about how presidential candidates and campaign workers are being dangerously threatened this election. Others wonder who is at fault, and how protection for presidential candidates and politicians can be strengthened.
