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Monday, July 15, 2024

Courage Shines Amidst a Hail of Bullets

Ed Morrissey: Imagine having the courage to stand back up after an assassin shot you on stage, rather than the rational impulse to remain in cover. And not just stand up, but also having the courage to rally the crowd to “Fight!” as Trump did while under fire. No one, not even Trump’s worst critics, can possibly deny his physical and mental courage in that moment just after he barely missed having his head blown off. It will have a galvanizing effect on Americans who have seen Trump as their champion, of course, but it may well have just as much of a galvanizing effect on millions more Americans who haven’t seen anything inspirational in politics for years. It might remind them that our country and our culture is worth fighting for (HotAir). Rich Lowry: There’s nothing that’s happened to Donald Trump since his rise to political prominence that has made him blink, and now we can add to the list an assassination attempt. Trump displayed remarkable sangfroid in the immediate aftermath of an effort to murder him? Yes, of course, he did. He insisted on not leaving the stage before he’d made a gesture of strength and resilience? Well, what would you expect? He took a nightmarish attack against him and turned it into an iconic image that will cement his status as a populist legend? Are you surprised? (National Review).

Melania Trump Calls for Nation to “Ascend Above the Hate”

CNN: Former first lady Melania Trump issued her first public response since her husband, former President Donald Trump, was injured in a shooting at one of his rallies on Saturday, reflecting on what the incident means for her and her family while calling for the country to “ascend above the hate.” In a statement posted Sunday morning on X, Melania Trump thanked Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials for protecting her husband after a man fired shots toward the former president at his Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign rally, and said she’s thinking of her “fellow Americans” in the wake of the shooting (CNN). Melania Trump’s message (Melania Trump).

Saturday’s Shooting is a “Logical consequence of repeatedly comparing him to Adolf Hitler”

Hill: The assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump left a nation stunned. But the most shocking aspect was that it was not nearly as surprising as it should have been. For months, politicians, the press and pundits have escalated reckless rhetoric in this campaign on both sides. That includes claims that Trump was set to kill democracy, unleash “death squads” and make homosexuals and reporters “disappear.” President Biden has stoked this rage rhetoric. In 2022, Biden held his controversial speech before Independence Hall where he denounced Trump supporters as enemies of the people. Biden recently referenced the speech and has embraced the claims that this could be our last democratic election (Hill). Tulsi Gabbard: The assassination attempt on President Trump is a logical consequence of repeatedly comparing him to Adolf Hitler. After all, if Trump truly was another Hitler, wouldn’t it be their moral duty to assassinate him (X)? Michael Knowles: Six days ago (X). Clay Travis: This is what calling him Hitler for eight years caused (X). End Wokeness: Former Senator Claire McCaskill recently declared on MSNBC that Trump is more dangerous than Hitler and Mussolini. This rhetoric is what got us here (X). Brigitte Gabriel: The left’s rhetoric inspired the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. You can’t compare a man to Hitler and then turn around and claim you’re against political violence (X).

Police Officer Confronted Shooter on Top of building, Retreated Down Ladder When Weapon Pointed at Him; Could be How Trump Survived

Associated Press: Not long before shots rang out, rallygoers noticed a man climbing to the roof of a nearby building and warned local police, according to two law enforcement officials. One local police officer climbed to the roof and encountered Crooks, who pointed his rifle at the officer. The officer retreated down the ladder, and Crooks quickly took a shot toward Trump, and that’s when Secret Service snipers shot him, said the officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. The officials also told AP that bomb-making materials were found inside Crooks’ vehicle, and bomb-making materials were found at his home. Officials described the devices as “rudimentary.” Investigators believe the weapon Crooks used was purchased by his father at least six months ago, the law enforcement officials said. Federal agents were still working to understand when and how his son obtained the gun and to gather additional information about Crooks (Associated Press). Charlie Kirk: This interaction might explain why Trump is alive today (X).

Tennessee State Senator Blames Assassination Attempt on Maga Extremism

Daily Wire: One Democrat in the Tennessee state legislature appeared to suggest that former President Donald Trump brought an assassination attempt upon himself, while another suggested that it was a hoax but hoped it was real. State Sen. London Lamar of Memphis wrote in a since-deleted post on X that “While I am praying for former President Trump and hopes he makes a full recovery… the extremism from the MAGA regime has brought us to this moment.” She deleted the first post, but continued to lash out, saying, “the same people who want me to show sympathy are the same ones making racist comments.” She deleted that post as well. She then reposted a message saying “Sure, it’s bad, but all I’m saying is we have to get over it.” Another black Democrat lawmaker from Memphis, state Rep. Antonio Parkinson, suggested that Trump had staged his own shooting as a hoax but seemed to insinuate that it might be better if it were real (Daily Wire). Charlie Kirk: Tennessee State Senator London Lamar blames MAGA for the assassination attempt against Trump in a since deleted tweet. Disgusting. Repulsive. Vile. There aren’t enough words (X).

Biden-Appointed Director of Secret Service Select Agents on DEI Criteria

They are protecting the most important people in the free world, they should only hire the best qualified. Daily Wire: Months before the Secret Service apparently missed a gunman on a rooftop and a female agent was seen on video struggling to put her gun in her holster after Donald Trump was shot, there were indications that the Biden administration’s focus on identity politics had undermined competence at the protective agency. Biden appointed Kimberly A. Cheatle as director; the second link on the agency’s website, after “Leadership,” is now “Diversity.” A focus for Cheatle has been getting more female officers, which she says are underrepresented—which has historically been the case because they are smaller and less able to defend the president. In April, a female agent allegedly attacked her own supervisor in a mental breakdown, Real Clear Politics reported at the time. Michelle Herczeg was relieved from duties defending Vice President Kamala Harris after she “snapped” while at Joint Base Andrews, where Air Force One and Air Force Two travel from. The April incident led Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service officer and Republican, to react: “Someone is going to get killed.” In May of last year, Cheatle stated goals to have 30% female recruits by 2030. “I’m very conscious as I sit in this chair now, of making sure that we need to attract diverse candidates and ensure that we are developing and giving opportunities to everybody in our workforce, and particularly women,” Cheatle said (Daily Wire). Real Clear Politics: Following the incident, Secret Service agents and officers are privately questioning the hiring process and whether the agency had adequately screened Herczeg’s background. Some also wonder whether her hire was part of a diversity, equity, and inclusion push in response to years of staff shortages that may have required the agency to lower its once-strict employment standards and physical performance to reach quotas for female agents and officers (Real Clear Politics). Libs of TikTok: Secret Service Director a few months ago: We’re focusing on hiring more women to be more diverse. Yesterday: Female agent couldn’t holster gun. Female agent frantically shouted “what are we doing? Where are we going?” after the shots.. The results of DEI. DEI got someone kiIIed (X).

Salena Zito: “I was four feet from the stage … I knew exactly what it was. I own a gun”

Salena Zito: The crowd formed in the sprawling field five hours before he arrived. Even in the 90-degree heat, they waited for him. Kids. Old people in wheelchairs. They waved signs: “Trump 2024.” “Joe Biden You’re Fired.” They listened to music. They heard speeches. A Ukrainian priest gave an invocation. As they waited, the crowd swelled to 30,000 people. Then Lee Greenwood blared through the speakers: “God Bless the USA.” Right around 6 p.m., Trump appeared on a red walkway, in his trademark blue suit and MAGA hat, waving to his fans. The excitement grew to a frenzy as he strode to the podium. I was four feet from the stage, in a causeway with about five other journalists. My daughter, a photographer, was next to me. Her husband was next to her. Trump started speaking. Six minutes later, we heard the noise. Some people in the crowd might have thought they heard fireworks. But I knew exactly what it was. I own a gun. I looked up at the president. He touched his ear. I was shocked to see blood on his face. A smear of red across his cheek. Suddenly, he was surrounded. Everyone went down. My daughter hit the ground. My son-in-law lay on top of her. I threw my body next to theirs. Immediately, a security officer was on top of me. I’ve since seen videos of what happened. People were screaming. But all I remember hearing was an eerie silence. With that kind of crowd, you’d expect pandemonium, a stampede. But I never had a sense of chaos. Trump was back on his feet within seconds, although his red hat was knocked off his head. He was calm. I heard him shout to one of his staffers, “Get my shoes!” He lifted his arm in the air. I think he shouted, “Fight!” Then he definitely shouted, “USA!” The crowd chanted it back in unison. The former president was moved off the stage. We were told he was flown to a local hospital. I was moved into a holding pen with the other journalists (Free Press).

Trump Raises Over $2 Million in Donations for Victims of Saturday Shooting

Fox News: Family members identified Corey Comperatore as the rally goer who was killed Saturday in an assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Comperatore, 50, was a former fire chief for Buffalo Township, a volunteer fire service, local news station WPXI reported. He was shot and killed when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump from a sniper’s perch during the campaign event. Two others were critically injured in the shooting, authorities said, while former president Trump’s ear was grazed in the deadly attack. The victim’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, wrote in a Facebook post that Corey “was a hero that shielded his daughters” (Fox News). Hill: Former President Trump’s campaign raised more than $2 million through a GoFundMe campaign this weekend for the victims of the Trump rally shooting in Butler, Pa. By Sunday afternoon, just before 3 p.m., the Trump campaign more than doubled its $1 million goal, reaching $2.034 million in donations. The total number of donations reached 27,900, according to the website, and the top donation was listed as $50,000 (Hill).

Democrat Who Tried to Remove Trump’s Secret Service Protection Criticized After Assassination Attempt, Fires Staffer for Supporting Shooter

Newsweek: A U.S. representative who introduced legislation that would have taken away Donald Trump’s Secret Service protection is facing criticism from the former president’s allies after Saturday’s attempted assassination of the presumptive Republican pick for November’s elections. In mid-April, Mississippi congressman and ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Representative Bennie Thompson, introduced legislation designed to strip convicted felons sentenced to prison of Secret Service protection. It was co-sponsored by several other Democrat lawmakers (Newsweek). Nick Sortor: The staffer for leftist Rep. Bennie Thompson has been FIRED after making a post insinuating that Trump’s shooter shouldn’t have missed. That’s not far enough. This person needs to be investigated or PROSECUTED instead. Keep in mind, Rep. Thompson is the same Congressman that introduced a bill to strip Trump of his Secret Service protection (X).

10.

Donald Trump Arrives at RNC Convention With a New Speech: “A chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together”

Salena Zito: “The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,” Trump said, “Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches” aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. “Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now….” “This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago,” he said (Washington Examiner). Washington Post: Donald Trump, who was injured in what authorities are calling an assassination attempt Saturday, touched down in Milwaukee Sunday evening after calling for Americans to unite as his party prepared to officially nominate him this week at the Republican National Convention. “Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else,” Trump posted Sunday on his social media site Truth Social (Washington Post).