A picture of the former president covered in blood and holding his fist to the air is bound to define the election cycle, one of the most powerful – regardless of one’s political opinion – of modern times.
We do not yet know the motive or identity of the shooter. But it is still worth considering the extreme polarisation that permeates the United States at the current moment.
Comments made by sitting President Joe Biden speaking of a “bullseye” on Trump, and tweets about him being a would-be “dictator” will, justified or not, lead to extreme scrutiny of remarks made by the White House prior to this seismic event.
Fundamentally, there is now little to no doubt that Trump will now become the 47th President of the United States of America.
His campaign, already trouncing Biden in a number of key swing states, can only benefit from this public act of bravery in the worst of circumstances.
The American people will not forget the words Trump appeared to utter as he was ushered off the stage: “fight, fight”.