‘Donald Trump is Superman’: How the assassination attempt is impacting the US presidential race

NEW YORK: A remarkable eight days in United States politics began when a lone shooter attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump on Jul 13.

He emerged relatively unscathed, save for a gunshot wound to his ear, before being endorsed as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention five days later.

On Sunday (Jul 21), his rival, US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race after weeks of calls from within his own Democratic Party to step down.

Biden then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement in the November election, though the Democrats still need to officially name their nominee for the presidency at the party’s national convention, scheduled to begin on Aug 19.

Trump’s survival and Biden’s exit are set to give voters plenty to think about in the coming months until they cast their ballots on Nov 5.

Political analysts said what happened to Trump not only cemented support from existing fans – it won him many new ones who see him as indestructible or even immortal.

“DONALD TRUMP IS SUPERMAN”

Trump’s supporters are now hearing proof of what they have been saying all along: Their freedom – and leader – is under attack.

In his nomination acceptance speech, Trump told Republicans: “No matter what obstacle comes our way, we will not break. We will not bend. We will not back down and I will never stop fighting for you, your family and our magnificent country. Never.”

That message is hitting home with a growing mass of American voters like Vincent Osborne, who told CNA: “Donald Trump is Superman. He’s able to endure the pain and he’s not shell-shocked.”

Carolyn Kissane, associate dean of the New York University Center for Global Affairs, said the assassination attempt has increased Trump’s chances of winning the race.

“In addition, I think it’s given him a sense of invincibility, a sense that he can survive anything. And he has survived a lot of things.”

Analysts said his supporters now see near-supernatural strength in him, including on issues like the economy, border control and foreign policy. 

Jacob Smith, assistant professor of political science at Fordham University, noted that Trump connects with other world leaders who have similar populist appeals through his “campaigning against the system”.

“(This is) where there may be some concrete proposals, but it tends to be rhetoric that’s against the ‘ruling elites’ or something like that,” added Smith.

Conspiracy theories about those ruling elites, frequently touted by Trump himself, have been a hallmark of his political career.

More recently, he has focused on claims that his “enemies” are behind the civil and criminal cases he has faced and lost in the past year.

DISTRUST AND DISINFORMATION

Since the attempted assassination, distrust and disinformation have also crept further into voters’ minds. For example, one voter who did not wish to be named told CNA that he believes the Biden administration is “clandestinely sabotaging” Trump.

Meanwhile, another Trump presidency is a terrifying prospect for Democrats – and some Republicans – still scarred from his first term in office.

As one voter in New York put it: “He reaped what he sowed. That is, he threatens violence, he supports violence, he incites violence.

“There will be bloodshed. He calls his troops to arms," he said.