The brief unification of our country in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has been surprising and uplifting.
It hasn’t been easy, I’m sure. Trump is loathed by many, which makes the efforts by some to rally around him all the more impressive.
Some of his biggest opponents offered their well wishes. Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed five dozen members of California’s National Guard to Milwaukee for the Republican convention this week. San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi condemned the violence against Trump, likening it to a brutal recent attack on her husband. And former President Barack Obama offered words of support and called for civility in our politics.
“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” Obama said. “Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”
Whether they meant it or not is irrelevant – coming together and offering support was the right thing to do.
But those comments left a void that had to be filled by something, and here are some of the worst.
Jake Paul, the prophet
Jake Paul, the former Disney kids actor whose current acting role is a piece of performance art where he plays a boxer online, suggested that Trump surviving proved he was God’s chosen candidate.
“If it isn’t apparent enough who God wants to win When you try and kill God’s angels and saviors of the world it just makes them bigger Good beats evil every time #Trump2024”
There’s a lot going on here: God’s will, angels, saviors, good versus evil. It’s an interesting perspective from someone who has repeatedly mocked Christianity on his podcast. It’s possible Paul has had a change of heart – but he sure hasn’t cracked open a Bible.
Paul would have benefited from running this prophecy past someone, as it falls apart both biblically and politically.
Politically: If Trump is God’s preferred candidate purely because he lived, what does that mean for the people Trump is running against who are also very much alive?
Biblically: Does God even have a chosen candidate? The Bible is rife with kings and judges empowered by God who were usually failures for one sin above all others: idolatry. This would certainly give Trump an advantage since he gives no glory to God and instead puts his name on everything.
But I don’t know. I’m skeptical that Trump is the Chosen One. Paul’s prophecy needs a second opinion.
Russell Brand, the media expert
Russell Brand, the British comedian, took to X to denounce the coverage of the assassination attempt.
Brand posted on X: “Language is important, note its use now. Various media have described Trump’s shooting as ‘a fall’, ‘a disruption’ ‘a disturbance’. I’ve even seen ‘assassination attempt’ queried. Like Trump could’ve been accidentally hit by someone trying to shoot a duck.”
It’s a good thing the news media is slow to label something as an assassination attempt. That’s the biggest news there could be and it’s important to get it right.
All of those things Brand mentions – a fall, a disruption, a disturbance – were all true. They were all things reporters could accurately say at the time. Details were slow to come out, but more precise labeling of the events started to be used as details emerged to support it.
It’s funny Brand starts his post with the lecture on language, when reporters were being as precise as possible. What if it had not been an assassination attempt? How are media outlets supposed to walk that back? “Oops” does not seem like it would cut it.
I’m picking on Brand a bit – he was one of many to share the same opinion. But he has a large following and is proof that while everyone is entitled to their opinion, those opinions don’t always need to be shared.
News media outlets are not above criticism, though not in this instance.
Trump, the unifier
Shortly after the shooting, Axios had a report that the near-death experience actually changed Trump. It seemed plausible, as close run-ins with death can make people reassess what’s most important.
“I think it’s real,” Tucker Carlson, who talks to Trump often, told Axios. “Getting shot in the face changes a man.”
Trump himself posted on social media about the need for unification. I was certainly hoping the change was real. Trump might be the next president and I’d love it if he was less combative, less vindictive, less self-obsessed. How beautiful would that redemption story be?
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I won’t hold my breath though. On social media shortly thereafter Trump posted some of his greatest hits, including “Witch Hunts,” “The January 6th Hoax,” “New York A.G. Scam,” and so on, saving the best for last.
“The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME,” Trump concluded. “Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!”
Those comments are certainly less combative and insulting than posts of the past, and nominal change is still change. But rumors of a totally changed Trump, who became a unifier after brushing up against death, might be greatly exaggerated.