The thwarting of a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump is a reminder of just how close civil order in the US is to breaking down and inevitably raises concern about the country’s long-term stability.
A 58-year-old man is in custody after shots were fired in what the FBI is calling an apparent second “attempted assassination” of the former president at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, and now there are fears other attempts could be made before the November election.Admiration of using guns to achieve ends has been part of America since frontier times. Newspapers, books and films made heroes of men with guns and yesterday’s John Wayne is today’s Kevin Costner.
Not to blame the intended victim of the latest assassination attempt, but Trump’s black hole ability to suck in all attention has turned the presidential election campaign into a tragicomedy pushing the nation towards implosion: one day he’s stalked by a gunman shortly after declaring his hate for Taylor Swift over endorsing his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris; the day before he is supposedly having an affair with an ardent supporter; he terrified American pet owners during last week’s...
Many believe Trump is a threat to American democracy. But extreme acts of political violence by madmen are antithetical to democracy. Americans surely must know that in the end ballots always beat bullets.– Since the Herald was first published in 1831, the editorial team has believed it important to express a considered view on the issues of the day for readers, always putting the public interest first.