The unsettling assassination attempt of Donald Trump
I was reading in our living room when Carolyn showed me a post on Instagram from Allie Beth Stuckey that said simply in white text on a black background that Donald Trump had been shot at a campaign rally. It was July 13. Stunned, I picked up my phone and opened Twitter.1 It was true.
For the next two hours, we watched the news but were more informed by updates from Twitter. The iconic picture taken by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci soon began appearing everywhere. It made the cover of Time Magazine on July 15.2
The hot stage mic captured much of what took place in the chaos. At one point, Trump was heard to be asking for his shoes. As the near-miss video was relentlessly played on news media and uploaded to social media, most sucked in their breath at Trump’s defiant and undisputedly dauntless raised fist. No matter one’s opinion, America witnessed a warrior rising.
The hours following were full of speculation as the sheer inanity of the assassination attempt settled on the country. Nothing made sense. Details trickled out. While Trump’s ear had been hit in the shooting, a rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed as he used his body to shield his family. Two others were also injured by the shots.
Tone it down
In the nonstop reporting and commentating that occurred in the next 24 hours, repeated calls for toning dow the rhetoric were made, especially by the MSM. It struck most as deeply hypocritical since journalists had not only spoken, written and posted about Trump needing to be eliminated, but had given airtime and primacy of attention to those who did.
Most agreed that the media were at the very least complicit in creating a culture where such an assassination attempt was made. Disconcertingly, a statement by President Biden in a July 8 phone call to shaken Democrat donors surfaced. The President’s goal was to rally Dems after his abysmal debate performance.
“Attack, attack, attack, attack,” Mr. Biden said when asked about the next debate and how he would change his preparation and framing.3
Later in the call, Biden said:
“We’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in the bull’s-eye.”
As more attention was given to Biden’s call for a bullseye in light of the assassination attempt,4 others on Twitter began posting horribly inflammatory statements made from the Left.
While the details of the assassination attempt and the failure of the Secret Service remain confusing, what’s not confusing is why there would be a culture of assassination. It was stoked by fuel from collective Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Reflective gratitude and a call for unity
As Sunday dawned and the deeper realization of the close call impacted the nation, Trump posted a statement on Truth Social that began to reveal a glimpse into the personal impact it had on him:
Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981. His diary from the following day reveals his frame of mind.
“Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less & less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn’t ask for God’s help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn’t that the meaning of the lost sheep? We are all Gods children & therefore equally beloved by him. I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to the fold…
Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.”
Two president-survivors. Both reflect the following day and reveal gratitude to God for their lives. There are volumes written about how Reagan’s experience impacted him and his leadership.5 It remains to be seen how Trump will respond.
The Republican Convention
However, this week - uncannily - has been the Republican Convention. On Monday, the news cycle circled like a shark around the question of Trump’s VP choice. I checked in and out throughout the day to see that gameshow style, Trump called those in consideration, one by one, to graciously inform them that they would not be chosen.
One call in particular was notable. It’s reported that Trump called 2024 independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy to talk about the importance of unity. Whether it was a canny political move by Trump or a genuine invitation for RFK to unite with him can’t be known. But RFK responded to the call (the audio of which was posted and then deleted from social media by RFK’s son), "Lots of rumors going around about my meeting this morning with President Trump. Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well. No, I am not dropping out of the race.”
Even before JD Vance was picked as Trump’s running mate, the RNC embraced Trump following the weekend. Whereas before Trump was the assumed nominee, after last Saturday, Republicans rallied vibrantly around him. As Trump attended with his ear bandaged, it became clear that everyone present had been impacted by last weekend’s event. Mentions of faith, God, and providential protection seasoned every speaker’s delivery.
Ben Carson quoted Isaiah 54:17:
“No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their vindication is from me. This is the LORD’s declaration.”
The passage was prescient. On Monday of this week, a federal judge tossed out the lawsuit against Trump related to the possession of document at Mar-Al-Lago on the grounds that the appointment of and funding for special counsel Jack Smith were illegal.6
The need for repentance
Yet, as the parade of pundits and commentators and citizens crossed the stages of the Republican National Convention, one thing was conspicuously absent. It was repentance.
When it came time to blame or assign causal fault to the conditions of our nation and the depravity of our culture, Republicans were unified. Essentially, their message was, “It’s their fault.”
Oh, how I long for national leaders that step away from the blame game and assume ownership and responsibility for our craven culture. Daniel the prophet was a righteous man. Yet, as he surveyed his own sinful nation, he confessed sin right along with and for them.
“Ah, Lord — the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands — we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commands and ordinances. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the people of the land.” (Daniel 9:4-6)
Daniel’s entire prayer is worth reading, but I’ve emphasized above the “we” statements that reveal Daniel stepped into this moment of brokenness for his nation with personal confession for corporate sins. It demonstrated that though Daniel was righteous, he still was aware of his own participation in the sinfulness of Israel that led to their downfall.
Pray with me
These are monumentally significant days. For my readers, you know I could never in good conscience or good faith (or even good confidence) vote for Joe Biden. In my post Platforms Matter, I admit I could not currently consider voting for any Democrat.
Yet, I don’t long for simple electoral victory for conservatives. We need more. We need repentance from us all - not just from “them.”
Will you pray with me for our nation, its leaders and for one another… that we will repent and joyfully turn to the Lord our Maker?
“Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”7
Daniel got it right. We must repent.
May these unsettling days of assassination attempts, inflammatory rhetoric and rejection of God be graciously replaced by healing and unity ahead.
“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”8
Sorry, Elon. I refuse to call it X.
Update July 18, 2024: I was wrong about it making the cover of Time Magazine. But here’s why… just this morning I saw the following Tweet:
Then I remembered seeing this headline and went and read the story in disbelief: Editor at 'major news outlet' tells media to bury iconic photo of Trump after assassination attempt. “An unnamed photo editor at a major news outlet believes it is "dangerous" for the media to highlight the historic photo of former President Trump standing tall after the assassination attempt Saturday, calling it "free PR" for the Trump campaign, according to a report… The photo has been praised as both iconic and instantly historic, and it will be on the next print cover of Time magazine.”
Unfortunately the MSM groupthink police are in full power. Look for the photo to quietly disappear in days ahead.
Biden Tries to Soothe His Top Fund-Raisers on a Private Call, by Shane Goldmacher, Theodore Schleifer, , Reid J. Epstein, , Lauren Hirsch (New York Times: July 8, 2024)
Biden admits Trump 'bullseye' comments a mistake, by Christal Hayes (BBC: July 15, 2024)
How The Reagan Assassination Attempt Changed His Presidency, by H.W. Brands (HistoryNet: June 6, 2017)
Florida judge dismisses the Trump classified documents case, by Daniel Barnes, Tom Winter and Dareh Gregorian (NBC News: July 15, 2024)
1 Timothy 2:2-4, NLT
2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV
Amen, Ive been confessing and repenting since Trumps assassination attempt of my lack of prayer for those in leadership positions, and Ive been praying more for leaders and those God has put in authority. God gave Israel wicked Kings because of the sinfulness of the nation, as judgment upon them,, I believe He has given us wicked leadership to call us to repentance of our wickedness and sinfulness. And to turn to Him alone. And it starts with me,, .