The attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump at his campaign rally on July 13 in Pennsylvania has heightened public concerns about political violence in the United States. A highly polarized country, the U.S. often sees presidential elections ignite instability and grievances. When Donald Trump, his face bloodied, pumped his fist in defiance and mouthed \"Fight! Fight!\", it was a vivid image of horror, anger, and division for many Americans.
A Moment of Déjà Vu in American History
History seems to be repeating itself. Four U.S. presidents have been assassinated while in office, and numerous presidential candidates have been targeted over the years. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president who led the country through the Civil War and played a major role in the abolition of slavery, was assassinated in 1865 as part of a larger political conspiracy. Almost a century later, John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. president, was fatally shot while riding in a presidential motorcade through Texas in 1963. Just three years ago in 2021, the Capitol Building was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election result.
The warning siren has already been sounded. A report by the University of Chicago titled \"Dangers to Democracy\" indicates that around 40 percent of Americans have a deep distrust of American democratic institutions. They believe that elections will not resolve America's fundamental problems, and this deep distrust spans across the political spectrum.
The report also notes the first increase since 2022 in the number of respondents who agree that \"the use of force is justified to restore Trump to the presidency.\" With growing TV and social media coverage of the fierce Biden-Trump race, political differences have become sharply defined, leading to affective polarization. This intense polarization can lead to increased hostility toward members of opposing parties and may erode the ability of people to collaborate for the common good. In essence, U.S. presidential elections are widening the deep and bitter political divide within the country.
Reference(s):
Problems of American society laid bare at Trump's rally shooting
cgtn.com
