Trump Heads to Wisconsin After Surviving Assassination Attempt

AFP/APP

New York: Former US President Donald Trump is heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the site of the Republican National Convention, less than 24 hours after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally left him injured. His allies have described his survival as “divine intervention” or “the hand of God.”

“Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin and the Republican National Convention by two days, but I have just decided that I cannot allow a ‘shooter’ or potential assassin to force change to scheduling or anything else,” Trump posted. “Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee as scheduled at 3:30 P.M. TODAY. Thank you!”

The four-day event kicks off Monday and will culminate with Trump’s acceptance of his party’s nomination for the third time since 2016.

The convention is taking place in the aftermath of the attempted assassination, which has heightened security measures. Trump was injured at a Pennsylvania campaign rally, leading federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to be on high alert. Security measures are being revised, with plans to expand the perimeter and create buffer zones around the events.

The FBI has identified the suspect as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

Trump is expected to announce his running mate during the convention, likely on Monday, and will formally accept the party’s nomination in a keynote address on Thursday night.

Law enforcement officials are planning to expand the security perimeter at the RNC after the gunman opened fire with an AR-style rifle outside the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service.

The FBI, US Secret Service, and local law enforcement agencies have sent a joint threat assessment calling for heightened awareness, though no credible or specific threat was identified.

About 2,400 delegates from around the country will come together to officially nominate Trump during a roll call vote on Monday. The vote is considered a formality as Trump clinched the nomination in March, amassing the required delegates.

The Republican Party will also adopt a new manifesto proposing a missile defense shield over the US and promising tax cuts and mass deportations of people in the US illegally.

Milwaukee is considered a Democratic stronghold, but hosting the convention in Wisconsin, a battleground state, puts the Republican Party’s message in front of key voters.

Trump’s supporters have attributed his survival to divine intervention. His daughter, Ivanka, expressed her belief that her late mother was watching over Trump during the attempt. Congressman Carlos Antonio Gimenez and Congressman Cory Mills described his survival as being by “the grace of God” and “divine intervention,” respectively.

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “GOD protected President Trump yesterday.” Trump himself credited God for saving his life, writing that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”