What Happens the Day After?

It is not the 2024 election that is concerning. It's what the American people decide to do once the election has past.

It goes without saying that political violence is unacceptable. Unfortunately, that statement seems like an outlier in the current political climate where assassination attempts come in pairs. Not only are Americans a bit desensitized to it all, some actually rationalize it away based on nothing more than personal bias. 

There are many litmus tests in the Age of Trump, and they apply to both sides of the political spectrum. How someone responds to political violence is a significant one. It means more than an individual's passionate declarations of support for their preferred candidate. Many have failed that test. And that says much about society and the religion of politics. 

On July 13th during a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was shot. The attempt was caught on camera as he spoke to the crowd. In what can only be described as a miracle, Trump sustained a minor injury to his right earlobe. If he had not moved his head as he did and when he did, the perpetrator would surely have killed him. Sadly, one attendee, Corey Comperatore, lost his life in the incident. Two others were injured. Despite claims, it was not staged. The photo of Trump being ushered off stage by Secret Service agents, with a bloody ear, fist raised in defiance, is powerful. It should be powerful. It doesn't require allegiance to Trump or the MAGA mindset to say he acted bravely that day, just shortly after an attempt on his life. 

Roughly two months later on September 15th, a second, would-be assassin was stopped from committing an act of violence near Trump International Golf Club. The perpetrator was hiding in the shrubbery with a firearm and intended to harm Trump. He fled and was arrested without incident. 

Following the second assassination attempt, well-known Trump critics (and just plain haters) either minimized what happened, put the onus on Trump, or both. On X, Rachel Vindman posted "No ears were harmed. Carry on with your Sunday afternoon." When people reacted in disgust, she doubled-down, blaming them for their sensitivity: "Sorry you’re triggered.  I mean no I’m not. I don’t care a little bit." Eventually, she deleted her posts and apologized, but not before a lot of harm was done. Less extreme but still problematic was Joe Walsh's response. Walsh, who once was a huge Trump supporter, is now firmly on the other side, so much so that he has lost his perspective. On X, he posted a sort of excuse, saying, in part: "The sad truth is this: It’s not at all surprising that someone would try to kill him. I mean, think about it. Every day for 9yrs, he’s spewed hate, spread division, and incited violence like no other. Every day. Ever since he came down that escalator. Every day, he’s attacked this person or that person, this group or that group. Eventually, someone is going to go after that boy. Political violence must be strongly condemned. But it’s not surprising. Not at all. It really isn’t. He has been the country’s megaphone for hate."

Is this the best we can do? Some of the loudest voices in punditry and commentary mocking political violence quite literally aimed at Trump and/or concluding "he had it coming"? These are just two examples. And these posts received plenty of support. 

Of the many illnesses present in society, behaving in a manner that we'd rightly condemn our opponent is near the top of the list. This is no way for human beings to behave. It is no way for political adversaries to act. None of this is modern-day progress. 

It is deeply disturbing to think reactions to violence must first carefully be weighed before a firm stance is made. With regard to the attempts on Trump, that consideration is strictly whether or not Trump is liked by the one doing the review. It is unconscionable conduct, but this is - collectively - where we've landed. This partisanship is fueled by an online landscape that is lightning fast and toxic in nature. Needless to say, you are not required to love or even like Trump before expressing shock and condemnation. The same goes for any politician, left or right. 

Donald Trump has been a polarizing force since he burst onto the political scene in a serious way in June 2015. His ascendancy has enraged some and galvanized others. No matter where your political loyalties lie, you are almost certain to have a strong opinion about the 45th president. The feelings have only increased since January 6, 2021 and the years following. The political left considers him an existential threat to the very foundation of our country. The political right considers him not just a stalwart force but the person who can stem the tide and restore our nation. Democrats and Republicans are quick to say this is the most important election of our lifetime. The extremes control the narratives. It's worth speaking out against the fringes who demand their words and actions are processed as the norm. 

There is no doubt that Trump's behavior is frequently unbecoming of a former commander-in-chief and one currently seeking a second term. He insults, lies, and presents himself as angry and ill-informed or willfully ignorant, depending on the subject manner. He lost in 2020 despite his claims it was "stolen" from him. That the GOP continues its political love affair with him is disheartening, to say the very least. Yet, not a single thing he has said or done means he deserves harm. This is a conspicuous truth. 

I don't think America is ready for boring politics. More than that, I don't think America wants the mundane. People are as loyal to their political persuasions as they are to their chosen denomination. Your political alignment tells others whether you want the country to fail or succeed, at least in their minds. Politicians aren't just temporary; they're miracle workers who transform our lives for better or worse. Out of this grows the kind of cultish devotion unmoved by the targeting of an ideological enemy. 

There are less than two months until the election, and the country is a tinderbox. But, no matter which undeserving, unlikable candidate wins, America will survive. The concerns about both Harris and Trump are real. But they have finite power. What should worry all of us more is the kind of environment that has been created along the way. It will be here for years to come.

Kimberly Ross is a freelance opinion writer who has written political and cultural commentary since 2015. She has bylines at The Federalist, USA Today, The Bulwark, Arc Digital, and ACN Ireland, among others. She was a senior contributor at RedState from 2015-2019. She has been a contributor to Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential Blog since 2018 and frequently appears in Washington Examiner magazine. She is co-host of The Right Thoughts Podcast. She holds a BA in History with graduate work in political science. She lives with her husband and two energetic sons in the Southern United States. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @SouthernKeeks.