Staff Reports
A recent Rasmussen Reports poll delivers quite a shocking takeaway for those concerned about the safety of former President Donald Trump as the 2024 election approaches. It seems that a solid 65 percent of likely American voters anticipate that another assassination attempt against the former president is a distinct possibility. Considering the history of attempts made against Trump, one must wonder if the Secret Service is accepting applications for extra agents, or if they’re just debating the efficacy of voting booths for self-defense.
The first nail-biting incident took place back in July, when Thomas Matthew Crooks decided that merely booing from the crowd wasn’t enough; he aimed at Trump’s ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. As if that weren’t thrilling enough, there was a second attempt in September when Ryan Wesley Routh thought Bushes made excellent hiding places for guns at Trump International Golf Course in Florida. Instead of putting, it seems some folks are putting their heads together to concoct some of the wildest assassination plots ever. Secret Service and the FBI have found themselves on the hot seat, facing extensive criticism over their performance during these alarming events.
Poll: Most Voters Expect Another Assassination Attempt Against Trump Before Election Dayhttps://t.co/X7SFgpOgdn
— AJAK (@AjakAjak1652) September 27, 2024
When the pollsters asked about the likelihood of further attempts on Trump’s life before Election Day, a staggering 32 percent of respondents proclaimed it “very likely.” That seems to convey a sense of urgency—like a herd of elephants on a stampede heading toward a voting booth. Interestingly, both Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated voters can agree on one thing: these attempts are more than just a bad reality TV show plot twist. Seventy-five percent of Republicans believe more attempts are in the cards, while Democrats and independents aren’t far behind, with 56 percent and 64 percent, respectively, eagerly peering into their crystal balls.
When asked about the motivations behind these attempts, nearly half of those surveyed pinned the blame on the incendiary rhetoric from Trump’s enemies rather than chalking it up to mental illness. After all, who wouldn’t feel fired up when faced with comparisons of Trump to Adolf Hitler or being told he’s a “threat to democracy”? It’s not hard to see why individuals might take bad advice from a rabid political atmosphere. Politicians have taken to using terms like “bullseye” and “extinguish” in relation to the former president. It’s as if they’re playing a political game of darts, and Trump’s face is the target.
Breaking it down by party affiliation, 63 percent of conservatives firmly believe that extreme anti-Trump rhetoric is the driving force behind these attempts, while only 33 percent of Democrats share the same sentiment. Even moderates appear to be leaning more towards blaming the vitriol from Trump’s enemies rather than the psychological stability of the assailants. Perhaps liberals just need a refresher course on the First Amendment and the consequences of their championing of incendiary speech.
The poll, conducted with a robust sample size of 1,114 likely voters, is a sobering reminder that the world isn’t just divided along party lines; it’s also very much divided in how citizens perceive the intentions and state of mind of those who threaten the former president. If nothing else, the need for a little more civility in political rhetoric might just end up saving some lives and keeping the peace. As Election Day approaches, Americans can only hope that sanity prevails over the chaos that has become a hallmark of today’s political landscape.
