WASHINGTON — The U.S. presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump escalates as tensions rise following a weekend of violence, including an apparent assassination attempt on the former president.
On Sunday, a gunman was arrested on Donald Trump’s Florida golf course, the same day Springfield, Ohio, received additional bomb threats. Springfield has been a focal point of Republican-led conspiracies involving immigrants.
Despite these incidents, both campaigns are proceeding with minimal disruption. The Secret Service confirmed that agents “opened fire on a gunman” near Trump’s golf course. An “AK-47 style rifle” equipped with a scope and a GoPro camera was reportedly recovered. The FBI is currently investigating what it described as an “attempted assassination of former President Trump.”
The suspect, identified by U.S. media as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, has a lengthy arrest record and had expressed support for Ukraine. Authorities have yet to determine a specific motive or political ideology for this or the earlier attempt on Trump’s life during a rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump was wounded in the ear.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris condemned the attack. “There is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,” stated Biden. Harris, the Democratic nominee, expressed her concern, saying she was “disturbed by the possible assassination attempt” and grateful for Trump’s safety.
Meanwhile, Clark State College in Springfield has moved classes online after a series of bomb and shooting threats. This is the fourth consecutive day of threats targeting local institutions, following rumors and allegations against Haitian immigrants fueled by Republican narratives, including Trump.
These threats have extended to hospitals, schools, and municipal buildings since Trump’s recent claims in a presidential debate that immigrants were responsible for stealing and eating residents’ pets. Some Haitian residents have expressed fear for their safety amid these baseless accusations.
Further inflaming the political climate, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” The singer had recently voiced her support for Harris on Instagram, calling her a “steady-handed, gifted leader,” which garnered widespread attention from Swift’s vast social media following. Trump’s motives for targeting Swift remain unclear, although he might believe that any publicity is advantageous.
Trump has also been criticized, including by fellow Republicans, for his association with right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, known for her conspiracy theories. Loomer has recently claimed, without evidence, that Swift is in an “arranged relationship” with football star Travis Kelce to sway the 2024 election.
Despite the escalating political turmoil, the race between Trump and Harris remains tight in key battleground states.