The world was shocked by the footage of the attempted assassination of the US presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Shots rang out during his appearance at a pre-election rally.
A bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and then he was surrounded by security.
Before they left the stage and took him to the hospital, he clenched his fist and mouthed, “Fight. Fight. Fight.”
The photo immediately became iconic.
The suspect of the shooting is 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. He was killed by snipers immediately afterward.
One attendee at the rally died and two others were seriously injured.
The shooter fired from the roof of a nearby building, which was not secured by the Secret Service. Witnesses spotted him and alerted the police.
Investigators are still determining what went wrong.
Due to these ambiguities, many believe that it was a conspiracy. It is said to have been organized either by Trump’s supporters or opponents in order to influence the US presidential elections this coming November.
The event is condemned by domestic and foreign politicians. Global leaders agree that such violence does not belong in democracy.
US President and Trump’s opponent, Joe Biden, emphasized that violence is never a solution.
Slovenia’s president, Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, also responded:
Violence in any form has no place in democracy. Has no place in political life, no place in public and private life. I'm shocked by the attack on former President @realDonaldTrump at the political rally. I wish him a quick recovery.
— Nataša Pirc Musar (@nmusar) July 14, 2024
Trump’s wife Melania, who is from Slovenia, wrote that Americans must unite despite their differences.
Trump is feeling well and has already attended the Republican convention, which will last until Thursday.
In the past, four US presidents and many candidates for this position have been assassinated. There have been many assassination attempts as well.
Glossary
An assassination is an attack on a leading figure, usually for political reasons.
Iconic means symbolic representation.
A sniper is specially trained to shoot with a sniper rifle, which is designed to shoot accurately at long distances.
A conspiracy is a secret plan to do something against the law or harmful, in some cases – to remove a holder of power.
Points to Consider
- How do we express our opinions if we disagree with someone in politics?
- Why is violence never acceptable?
- How will this event affect the election?
For Parents and Teachers
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The original version of this article was published on 16th July.
