The Bullet That Changed the Race: How Trump's Survival Altered Biden's Fate

Last Saturday evening in Butler, Pennsylvania, a dramatic turn of events transformed an already intense presidential race. With over three months to go until polling day, fate made a decisive intervention.

A video of Trump getting shot shows him quickly falling and being shielded by his security detail. Despite the chaos, Trump instinctively knew he needed to seize the moment. In an incredible display of strength for a 78-year-old, he broke free and raised his fist, and a photo capturing his defiance went viral, symbolizing his resilience.

As the crowd chanted "USA! USA!", Trump appeared unfazed, almost as if he had anticipated this moment for years. His response was a stark contrast to the initial reactions of media panels, which quickly shifted focus to broader themes of political violence.

Meanwhile, some of Trump's supporters irresponsibly blamed Joe Biden for the shooting, calling for absurd actions like prosecuting the president for inciting violence. However, the real political impact of this shocking attack runs deeper than such blame games.

Since Biden’s poor performance in the June 27 debate, his campaign has struggled. They hoped to redirect attention to Trump, and they succeeded, but not in the way they wanted. Instead of focusing on Trump’s criminal record or autocratic tendencies, the public is now captivated by his resilience and physical courage.

Trump has long claimed to be a victim of political persecution, and now an attempt on his life has added weight to that narrative. T-shirts featuring the iconic image of Trump with his fist raised were quickly sold online, underscoring his newfound invincibility.

Understanding the impact of this moment requires recognizing the role of virility and masculinity in American political culture. Presidential races are ruthlessly patriarchal and Darwinian, traits that have always been central to Trump’s appeal. His aggressive, testosterone-fueled masculinity resonates with conservative evangelicals and the broader electorate.

Biden’s recent debate performance, which appeared frail and confused, was disastrous. In a democratic country, such a showing would be damaging. In the context of U.S. politics, it was catastrophic.

On Sunday, Biden addressed the nation, urging for a lower political temperature and condemning violence. While his message was commendable, it highlighted his struggle to control the narrative. The attempted assassination has only made the contrast between Biden and Trump starker.

Trump's resilience should prompt Democratic leaders to reconsider Biden's candidacy. Despite Biden’s significant accomplishments, he appears unfit to serve a second term. The debate and subsequent interviews have only reinforced concerns about his viability as a candidate.

The recent NATO summit was another missed opportunity for Biden to demonstrate vigor and lucidity. Instead, it confirmed doubts about his capacity to lead.

The assassination attempt has been misinterpreted as shifting focus away from Biden’s viability, but it does the opposite. Trump's new aura of invincibility should encourage Democrats to call for Biden to step aside. With time running out, Biden could endorse Harris or prompt a primary race for new candidates like Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom, or Pete Buttigieg.

This eleventh-hour campaigning might energize the Democratic Party, though it also risks further chaos. However, sticking with Biden is equally risky.

Biden’s era as a great politician seems over, while Trump continues to defy reason, tearing up the rulebook and heading back to the White House.

The recent shooting is reminiscent of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s "shot heard round the world" which started the American Revolutionary War. Now, Trump’s supporters speak of a "second American Revolution," promising it will remain bloodless "if the left allows it to be."

It’s a chilling prospect. But for now, the wounded man with his fist in the air defies reason once again, challenging the norms and making his way back to power.

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