Former President Donald Trump Injured at Pennsylvania Rally

Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

On July 13, former President and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump was injured at a rally in Pennsylvania. The suspect, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, is believed to have acted on his own accord rather than as a professional sniper, according to Sergei Goncharov, president of the Association of Veterans of the Alpha Anti-Terror Unit and member of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) advisory council.

Details of the Incident

Trump was approximately 135 meters away from the rooftop where the shooter was found, as per NBC News' analysis of Google Earth images. The shooter reportedly used an AR-15 rifle, which is commonly used in competitions and for hunting. The effective range of a standard AR-15 is up to 600 yards (548 m), but a novice could hit targets at a distance of 200 yards (182 m).

Questionable Conduct of the Secret Service

The Secret Service's conduct has been called into question by US law enforcement and intelligence experts. Reports suggest that an eyewitness alerted the police to a person crawling onto a rooftop with a rifle during the rally. However, the alleged shooter was ignored by the police and Secret Service for several minutes despite being pointed out by the witness and his friends.

Security Lapses: Who is to Blame?

According to Alexey Filatov, retired lieutenant colonel of the Russian Federal Security Service and veteran counterterrorism specialist, the security for the former president was provided by three groups: his bodyguards, local police, and the Secret Service. It appears that there was a lack of proper communication between these groups, and they also failed to secure all nearby rooftops. Filatov believes that the security performed extremely poorly and that Trump's life was saved more by luck than by his security.

Democratic Leadership's Role in the Incident

Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at Russia’s Higher School of Economics and deputy director of research at the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, believes that the Democratic Party leadership and the Biden administration bear the overarching responsibility for the attempted assassination. He argues that the Democratic establishment has been convincing American society that Trump's return to power would mean an end to American democracy and that Trump constitutes a major threat to the United States. Suslov believes that this has led to the radicalization of many Trump opponents, resulting in violence and the attempted assassination.

Impact on the Upcoming Elections

Suslov further suggests that the Secret Service's failure to protect Trump stems from the US establishment's hostility towards him. He believes that Trump's election odds are likely to increase following the assassination attempt, while Biden's chances will decrease as more Americans perceive Trump as a victim of political persecution by Team Biden.

What Do You Think?

This incident certainly raises many questions about the state of American politics and the security of its leaders. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you agree with the opinions expressed in this article? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends, and don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.