Donald Trump is Shot at a Rally; Political Crisis May Reach Unprecedented Levels

We publish an unofficial translation of this article from Brazilian newspaper A Nova Democracia, original link here.

This event is a reflection of a deep crisis of the imperialist system and that this crisis has once again reached the point of attempted assassination of presidential candidates, the likes of which have not been seen since the times of the “Cold War.”

By Jaílson de Souza

July 13, 2024

Donald Trump, former ultra-reactionary president and current favorite candidate for the presidency of the United States, was shot by a scraper, in the ear, during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, at 6:13 p.m. on July 13th (7:13 p.m. Brasilia time). A spectator of the rally was killed, in addition to the shooter, and two other people were seriously injured.

So far the information is being confirmed. What is already known is that the shooter was killed by the U.S. secret service in response to the shooting, was in a privileged position, having climbed onto a roof that is no more than two stories high, near the stage and with a clear line of sight of the former president and current candidate. Furthermore, to access the area he was in, theoretically the shooter had to be searched by the local police and the FBI, in addition to having remained there despite the ostensible sweep that should have been carried out by the secret service. Witnesses at the scene indicate to the press monopoly that they saw the shooter and question how the US secret service did not see him.

The press monopoly reports that a climate of perplexity has gripped the public. Immediately, leaders of the ultra-reactionary “Democratic” party, such as the genocidal former president Barack Obama, have come forward to condemn the action against Trump and avoid electoral erosion and, above all, the escalation and generalization of political violence (a risk that cannot be discarded, given the degree of division of the Yankee ruling classes and false polarization among the masses). The same was done by the current president, Joe Biden, who said he was against “sick” political violence.

So far, the political impacts are still barely measurable, but it is common ground among all writers, reactionary or progressive, the idea that the political crisis in the imperialist superpower tends to reach new and higher levels. It is also a tendency for Trump to come out strengthened from this incident: if he was already a favorite before, he now moves to consolidate this position. The ultra-reactionaries of the Democratic Party will try to link, later, this event to Trump’s own stance, accusing him of being the initiator of the “cycle of violence” in politics. On the other hand, a crisis will also occur among them, as circumstances will require a “democratic” candidate more capable than Joe Biden has shown himself to be, to deal with the enormous political challenge that reversing the post-attack situation represents. Furthermore, there will inevitably be an intensification of the false ultra-reactionary polarization and an even more virulent electoral campaign, which is in line with trying to give legitimacy to the political system of bourgeois democracy that is crumbling in the campaign for “votes against the greater evil”. Ultimately, the attack could generate new spiraling episodes, which would further threaten the already unstable political situation in the United States. Finally, it cannot be ruled out, at this point, that this is a trick or a setup, as the history of the Yankee ruling classes has written the manipulation of public opinion for their ultra-reactionary ends through commotion.

Regardless of anything, it is undoubted that this event is a reflection of a deep crisis of the imperialist system, as the unique hegemonic superpower USA finds itself immersed in, and that this crisis has once again reached the verge of the physical elimination of presidential candidates, the likes of which have not been seen since the times of the “Cold War”. It is further proof of the remarkable depth of the general crisis of decomposition, which penetrates from the economy in stagnation and recession over several decades, to the deep division of its ideologues and politicians.

AND will be aware of the developments throughout Sunday (14) and Monday (15), bringing new updates. It will also address the topic in detail in the Editorial to be published on Tuesday (16) and on the YouTube channel on Monday (15).