Can we please wait for a moment?
Calls for Political Moderation Following Attempted Murder of Donald Trump Ignore Reality: They Deceive by Masking a Crucial Issue.
The attempted murder of former President Donald Trump had only been twelve hours old when the first analyses began to emerge. The shots at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, were described by Politico as "the latest alarming proof of the escalating violence and threats that have permeated the current political discourse in America."
Similarly, other media outlets expressed concern: "We must recognize that we have all been touched by toxic politics - regardless of our beliefs," the "Washington Post" wrote in a commentary. It is now up to the leaders of both parties, as well as Americans, "to prevent a slide into further violence and the extremist language that fuels it."
An eyewitness to the event told CNN, "I'm not surprised that this happened. I'm surprised it happened right there next to me." The man reminded of past murders and assassination attempts: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, his brother Robert Kennedy in 1969, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King in 1968. The United States should not conduct political discussions on an level where such things occur.
This Analysis is Too Simple
This is not entirely incorrect, but it is not entirely accurate either. Firstly: It is true that the United States has a unique history of violence and political violence. However, in Germany, there have been attempts on politicians: in 1990 against Oskar Lafontaine and Wolfgang Schäuble. In 2019, the Hessian CDU politician Walter Lübcke was murdered on his terrace.
Secondly: It is still unclear what motivated the assailants. The man, for example, who wanted to kill Reagan, was mentally ill. It is possible that this also applies to Thomas Matthew Crooks. So far, only known is that he donated $15 to the Democrats when he was 17 and registered as a Republican a few months later when he was 18.
However, even if Crooks acted on the basis of some beliefs, it is hardly the political discourse that is responsible for the attempted murder. Thirdly: That would be too simple. It was not the political discourse in Pennsylvania that put a roof on itself and tried to assassinate Trump. It was a specific person. Research on so-called Lone Wolves is known to show that they radicalize themselves in a way. They require a "discourse," but they seek it out for themselves.
An End to the Debate Cannot Be the Solution
The self-critical reflections of media, which are often very critical of Trump, stand in stark contrast to reactions from the Republican camp. Senator J.D. Vance, a Trump loyalist who may be promoted as the vice presidential candidate in the coming days, wrote on X: "Today's events are not an isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. This rhetoric led directly to the attempted assassination of President Trump."
For every price? The assumption is wrong, as US President Joe Biden is not conducting such a campaign. However, these sentences are the consistent continuation of the thoughtful tones from "New York Times" and "Washington Post." Yes, actions can come from words. But this should not lead to silencing the discourse - not at all from the side of those who rightfully warn of the dangers coming from Trump and the Republicans.
It is terrible that such an assassination attempt occurred. It is terrible that a person lost their life. The horror of this is not lessened when it is discovered: Neither Democrats nor Republicans have a direct responsibility for the attack. We should wait for deeper analyses until details about the motives of the perpetrator are known. Until then: The Republicans should urgently moderate their rhetoric. But not to prevent attacks, but to prevent destroying the political culture in the USA.
Of course, it would be good if this attack were a wake-up call for the political culture of the USA. This is not to be expected. The central problem of the political culture in the USA is not an abstract discourse, for which "both sides" bear responsibility. Rather, it is the fact that one of the two major parties has slipped into political radicalism. The attack has nothing to do with this: It does not justify the attack, nor can it explain it. However, the attack should also not be used to hide this fact.
In the United States Presidency Election 2024, both former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden are expected to be key contenders. The recent attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania has sparked discussions about the role of political discourse in promoting violence. Despite calls for political moderation, it's crucial to understand that the motivations behind such acts are complex and often not directly linked to the broader political discourse. Instead, the focus should be on addressing the radicalization within one of the major political parties, without using the event to silence legitimate concerns about political extremism.
