International Press Opinions - Attack on Donald Trump: 'No mitigating circumstances apply for use of weapons'
Saturday was the day Donald Trump was shot at during a campaign rally. Two days later, according to his own statements, the former president intends to appeal for overcoming political division in the country at the Republican Party convention. He abandoned his originally planned and highly provocative speech for the Republican Party convention, Trump told the tabloid "New York Post" in an interview. "I want to try to bring the country together," Trump reportedly said. "But I don't know if it's possible. The people are very divided." Trump is not entirely blameless for this, some international newspaper commentators note two days after the shooting.
"The Guardian", United Kingdom: "We must also be careful not to allow extreme actions by a minority to silence legitimate criticism. There are good reasons to believe that Trump poses a threat to American democracy. At the same time, there is no justification for the belief that he should be stopped with violence. Politicians of all colors must be more careful in their choice of words. It is also up to the American public to turn this dark moment into a turning point for the better and not into something even worse."
"24 Chassa", Bulgaria: "The young political assassin shot at Trump, but actually hit Biden. Unintentionally, he accelerated Biden's plans for an early retirement. (...) If Biden were to renounce the presidency as early as (the end of the Republican Party convention on) Wednesday, Harris would immediately take the presidential oath and, like a giant magnet, would attract all microphones, cameras, and reporters with notepads in hand. (...) Then Trump, who was shot, would fade into the background and play a supporting role in the news. This requires the laws of the production and the Democrats should not miss this opportunity if they are truly confused and helpless."
"De Standaard", Belgium: "The increasing political and cultural polarization in this campaign cannot be denied. Investigations suggest an alarming acceptance of violence – especially in light of the widespread availability of weapons in the US – to bring Trump to power or keep him from power. The political class and every citizen, for whom the welfare of the country is dear to their hearts, is responsible for overcoming this toxicity. There are no mitigating circumstances for the use of weapons. Every political misuse of this attack should be denounced. This seems to be a pious wish at the moment."
"Le Figaro", France: "Donald Trump, who is accused of all wrongdoings and driven by revenge, has always portrayed himself as a victim of a political system and its judges, who would be pursuing the America of the Disenfranchised, for which he has fought. (...) Biden stands opposite him – despite his flattering economic record, the wisdom he has amassed in domestic and international politics – and is physically at the end of his strength. The Democrats have doubts about his ability to serve a second term. After the shock of the weekend, the contrast to Trump is greater than ever! One is collapsing, while the other is rising again."
"Information", Denmark: "After the incident occurred, one must admit that the shots at Trump were a despicable, yet expected catastrophe. Not because it was Trump, but because it is American politics. The USA has a beautiful history of political participation and open campaign events. It is commendable that presidential candidates in times of screens and digitalization fill sports arenas, school buildings, closed theaters, and other institutions with life. However, the USA also has a hateful history of political violence and attacks on political leaders and presidents. Politicians from both the right and left spectrum have been attacked; people who fought for civil rights and people who fought against civil rights.
It is a wonder that the former president apparently came out relatively unharmed from the shots that hit his ear. And aside from what one thinks of him, it is impressive that he clung to the beautiful openness of American politics and did not give in to the grotesque and gruesome tendency towards political violence.
"de Volkskrant", Netherlands: The failed assassination attempt on the US presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump is another sign that the strongest democracy in the western world is in its foundations shaken. Now the question arises, how far the shockwaves will reach. It can be noted first and foremost that Trump and America were lucky in the face of the shooter's intention. If the shooter had only adjusted the trajectory of the gun a hundredth of a degree, the consequences would have been unforeseeable. Many Republicans saw it as a divine hand. Thanks to this 'miracle', Trump can continue to profile himself as a persecuted martyr who seems invulnerable – his chances of a new presidency may have significantly increased.
"Dziennik", Poland: The attack on (the former US president Donald) Trump is a message to the world that America is weakening. And even if that is not the case factually, countries on the periphery that base their security policy on the USA are already paying the price for it today. Because when the world police weaken, it means: Everything is allowed. Events such as the march on the Capitol in winter 2021, Biden's gaffes, or now the attack on Trump encourage the axis of authoritarian regimes – China, Russia, and their satellite states – to test the weakness of the West. Because authoritarian rulers think in zero-sum games. Only two factors are important in their calculations – strength and weakness.
"Hospodarske noviny", Czech Republic: US President Joe Biden condemned the attack and said he was grateful that Trump was doing well. This is a reaction that perhaps some democratic voters may appreciate, but certainly not the enraged masses that the Republican Party has become under the influence of the populist Trump. (...) His rhetoric will worsen and he will try to surround himself with the aura of a man who has survived. The Democrats, on the other hand, cannot fight back in the current situation, but can only show patience. The pressure on President Joe Biden to throw in the towel and let a younger one take the lead will only increase. US politics – and thus the whole world – is facing a very restless summer."
"La Repubblica", Italy: "In the sixteen days since the TV debate in Atlanta and following the attack on Donald Trump in Butler, the American presidential campaign has transformed into a ruthless mirror of a threatened democracy. The physical frailty of US President Joe Biden and the political violence that met his challenger Trump in Pennsylvania have raised fears and instability that unsettle Americans. A nation (...) must come to terms with the fact that every week can make a difference, and we are still nearly four months away from the election.
Biden's and Trump's words after the attack contain important calls for reason, unity, and moderation, condemning political violence. However, the coming weeks will show if they come too late. Moreover, complicating matters is the fact that most citizens no longer see them as legitimate leadership figures.
"Sydney Morning Herald", Australia: "US President Joe Biden faces a delicate balancing act, as America continues to reel from the attack on its greatest political rival. After weeks of discussions following the TV debate, Biden had planned to intensify his attacks on Donald Trump in the coming weeks to prove to Democrats that he has the mental and physical strength to defeat the turbulent Republicans in the November election. The strategy was simple: showcase the strengths of his first term, present a bold vision for the future, and go on the offensive against Trump, portraying him as the greatest threat to democracy in the US. However, the attack on the former president on Saturday has turned everything upside down. Facing the fear of escalating violence, Biden cannot afford to further fuel the simmering tensions of a country teeming with hostility, anger, and fear.
"Los Angeles Times", USA: "This should be a moment of unity – one that both Biden and Trump called for – to condemn the violence and mourn the victims with one voice. (...) Instead, the incident threatens to further divide and incite more violence in this deeply polarized nation, where there are more guns than people. This should not be the case. The example set by political leaders in the coming days is crucial in determining how the rest of the campaign season unfolds. (...) Trump and the top Republicans, who gather at the Congress in Milwaukee this week, bear a particular responsibility in ensuring that the attack is not used to incite their base. They must recognize that the US is a powder keg, and that inflammatory rhetoric should be toned down before sparks fly. For the moment, they must acknowledge that violence, once unleashed, is non-partisan."
- Despite the shooting incident, the Republicans are still planning to appeal for unity at their convention, with former US-President Donald Trump expressing his desire to bring the country together, as noted in the "New York Post".
- Following the shooting, some international newspaper commentators are criticizing Donald Trump for contributing to the political division in the USA, as mentioned in "The Guardian".
- The US-President Joe Biden, who was unintentionally hit during the shooting, may see his plans for an early retirement accelerated if he decides to renounce the presidency, as suggested by "24 Chassa" from Bulgaria.
