ANALYSIS: There are events that define history, and the attempted assassination of former US president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is one of those moments.
This will shape the remainder of the presidential campaign and if he didn’t already have it in the bag, will help secure Trump victory over President Joe Biden.
The contrast between the two couldn’t be clearer.
On the one side is the image of Trump, blood smeared across his face with his fist raised high as the American flag flies in the background, having survived a gunman’s attack – defiance personified.
Even after dodging a bullet he stands at the lectern to chant “fight, fight”, before being bundled by heavily armed Secret Service away to safety – one last fist bump before being driven from the frightening scene.
On the other side is a frail and infirm Biden, forgetting names and stumbling at every public appearance, who even senior members of his own party want to stand down from the race.
He is behind in the opinion polls and is now all but certain to lose the election on the first Tuesday in November.
It is remarkable that Trump has survived this gunman’s attack and the Trump campaign will milk this appalling act of violence for all its worth.
What is surprising is that Americans are shocked that this attack occurred in the first place.
The personal attacks from both sides have been ramping up in a country that is deeply divided and armed to the teeth.
How the shooting attack on Donald Trump unfolded
It’s not just presidents and nominees who are the target of death threats and attacks, but also judges, campaign organisers and even independent electoral staff who are simply doing their jobs.
They and their families are subject to verbal threats and worse.
Sadly, this attack won’t turn down the temperature in an increasingly volatile campaign, or provide pause for US lawmakers to reconsider their ludicrous gun laws.
This attack will only serve to provide greater impetus for Donald Trump to regain the keys to the White House.
