The United States is engulfed in a serious political divide. The nation, at the present, is perhaps more polarized and divided politically speaking than at any other period in the national history of the country since the American Civil War occurred over 150 years ago. In a modern age of fast communication and the near-instant spread of information, it is no surprise that there is a hyper-focus amongst the citizenry of the union on the upcoming presidential election set to occur in 2024. Indeed, tensions are heightened, and the mainstream media outlets on both sides of the political aisle continue their tendencies of promoting sensational and emotionally charged coverage of the political cycle. Unlike in previous decades, the state of American political media has become extremely opinionated and agenda-driven, with both sides often pushing political narratives and sometimes conflating objective reporting with opinion-based rhetoric to best serve the political interests of the sides they are aligned with. Given these realities, it is no surprise that political violence is a serious possibility in the United States at present.
A deranged gunman, a 20-year-old by the name of Thomas Matthew Crooks, climbed atop a building several hundred yards away from Trump as he spoke. Law enforcement officials were notified by attendees of the suspicious individual on the rooftop, and when one went to investigate, the perpetrator pointed the firearm at the officer. When the officer hesitated, the gunman then fired at Trump several times, narrowly missing the back of his head and grazing his ear. In an extraordinary feat, Trump somehow survived a near-death experience, coming mere inches away from a horrific demise. Rallygoers were not as fortunate; one individual was killed, and two others are in critical condition.
After an investigation into Mr. Crooks, the FBI discovered explosives in the residence and automobile of Mr. Crooks. It appears that the perpetrator was planning sinister actions in addition to his shooting fiasco.
