Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are entering a more intense phase of the US presidential campaign on Monday, with tensions escalating following a second apparent assassination attempt against the Republican former president. The arrest of a gunman at Donald Trump's Florida golf course on Sunday coincided with more bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, a small Midwestern city at the heart of Republican-led conspiracies against immigrants.
Despite these events, the campaigns are expected to continue with minimal disruption. The Secret Service confirmed that one or more of its agents "opened fire on a gunman" near the boundary of Trump's Florida golf course, and an "AK-47 style rifle" with a scope, along with a GoPro video camera, was recovered. The FBI is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former president Trump. US media identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who has expressed support for Ukraine and has a lengthy arrest record.
Authorities have not yet identified a specific motive or political ideology for the shooter behind the previous attempt on Trump's life at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump was wounded in the ear on July 13. It remains unclear whether the gunman fired a weapon at the former president before being engaged by the Secret Service.
Both Harris and President Joe Biden denounced the attack on Trump, with Biden stating: "There is no place for political violence or any violence ever in our country." Tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk faced criticism after posting, and subsequently deleting, a question on his social media platform X asking why no one had tried to kill Biden or Harris, according to US media.
Vice-President Harris, the Democratic nominee who will face ex-president Trump in the polls on November 5, expressed her concern over the possible assassination attempt and gratitude for Trump's safety. World leaders, including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the apparent attempt on Trump's life. The Kremlin noted that it was a sign of the US election campaign intensifying.
On the same day as the apparent assassination attempt, Clark State College in Springfield announced it would hold classes virtually this week after receiving bomb and shooting threats over the weekend. This marked the fourth consecutive day of threats targeting local city hall, public schools, and nearby college Wittenberg University, following racist rumors about local Haitian immigrants pushed by Republicans, including Trump.
What began as municipal growing pains in a rapidly expanding city has evolved into allegations of an "invasion" by "illegal" Haitian newcomers, falsely accused of stealing and eating people's pets and causing a crime wave. Threats have since extended to hospitals, schools, and municipal buildings. Some Haitians living in the city have expressed fear for their lives.
Adding to the country's contentious political atmosphere, Trump posted on his Truth Social website that "I hate Taylor Swift!" The superstar singer/songwriter had endorsed Harris, calling her a "steady-handed, gifted leader." Celebrity endorsements rarely carry significant weight, but Swift's popularity, with over 400 million followers across social media platforms, makes her endorsement notable.
It remains unclear what Trump hoped to gain by attacking Swift, although he may believe that any publicity is beneficial. He has faced criticism, even from fellow Republicans, for his association with conspiracy-minded right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, who has at times joined him on his campaign plane. Loomer has made controversial claims, including suggesting that Swift entered an "arranged relationship" with football star Travis Kelce to influence the 2024 election. There is no evidence to support these claims.
The race between Trump and Harris remains close across the battleground states that will determine the election.
