Al Jazeera quotes Stephen Zunes July 13+15, 2024 in:
* FBI probing Trump shooting as ‘domestic terrorism’ as RNC opens
Stephan Zunes, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco, said the attempted assassination – and Trump’s response to it – is playing into both his “hero” and “victim narrative”. As a “professional showman”, Trump is sure to capitalise on the moment “in whatever way he can” and “play it to the hilt”, Zunes told Al Jazeera.
* Donald Trump rally shooting updates: FBI agents swarm killed suspect’s home: Assassination attempt to play into Trump’s ‘hero narrative’
The image of Trump bloodied and raising a fist after escaping an assassination attempt will become iconic for the American right, boosting his hero status to them, said Stephan Zunes, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco. It will also play into the “victim narrative that has been very strong for [Trump] and his movement,” Zunes told Al Jazeera. Trump, as a “professional showman”, is sure to capitalise on the imagery “in whatever way he can”, and “play it to the hilt,” Zunes added….
* Attack on Trump to supercharge ‘conspiracy theories’ [no link]
Zunes cautioned people from assigning a motive to the attack on Trump too quickly, which he said is sure to “add to the craziness of the political scene. Unlike in other countries, much of our attempted assassinations [in the US] are by people who are mentally ill and do not have a political motivation… We should not assume this is necessarily part of so-called polarising situation.” Nevertheless, Zunes told Al Jazeera, the attack reflects a society in which “threats of political violence are growing” and are likely to further fuel “conspiracy theories from both the left and the right.”