Bob and Willa Holliger of Independence were watching former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally on TV when they saw him grab his ear and then go to the ground – witnessing live an attempted assassination of the Republican presidential candidate.
A day later the couple said they weren’t surprised.
“I believe this is spiritual warfare,” Willa said as they munched on sausages with peppers at the Jackson County Republican Party’s ice cream social on Sunday afternoon. “I thought about how God had protected him.”
Trump supporters in the Kansas City area expressed anger, sadness and relief after the shooting at a Pennsylvania rally, which left Trump shot in his right ear and a rally attendee dead. The shooter, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, was killed by the Secret Service moments after opening fire.
Dozens gathered for the Jackson County Republican Party social at an Elks lodge in south Kansas City. The long-scheduled event still featured a parade of candidates delivering two-minute stump speeches in between bites of ice cream, but the atmosphere at times turned somber as speakers gave thanks that Trump – whom many consider a champion – had survived.
“At first I couldn’t believe it,” said Ruth Pirch, an Oak Grove resident who was also watching the rally.
Pirch predicted the shooting would lead to greater unity in the country. She voiced hope that the attack would bring an end to what she called “hateful rhetoric.”
“I think what it means is we’re coming together,” she said.
The attempted assassination took place ahead of the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee. Trump plans to keep his previous plans to attend the rally and the four-day event appears set to continue on as usual, albeit with greater security.
Modern political conventions are intended to elevate the party’s candidate while denigrating the opposing party’s nominee. Whether the shooting alters Republican messaging at the convention wasn’t immediately clear.
In Kansas City, some GOP candidates faulted Democratic rhetoric about Trump. Will Scharf, a member of Trump’s legal team who is running for Missouri attorney general, pointed to the demonization of the former president as a potential future Hitler or dictator.
“I mean, the tone of that rhetoric almost calls out for violence and I think that’s what’s really despicable about, certainly, the lead-up to yesterday’s events and the current political tone we’ve seen throughout this campaign season,” Scharf said.
Anthony Zarantonello, a Republican running for Missouri House District 26, which covers a swath of south Kansas City, expressed shock at the shooting. He told the ice cream social crowd that he couldn’t fathom what had happened.
“The fact that we are fighting so hard for American freedom and that somebody who believes in communism or Marxism wants to take a shot the first time we actually had a real, for the people president that didn’t care about the media, about the politicians, about the money,” Zarantonello said.
Officials have not identified the motivation of the shooter, who the FBI identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel, Penn. Crooks was a registered Republican and had donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on the day of Biden’s inauguration, the Associated Press reported.
Biden has used tougher language about Trump in recent weeks. In a private call seeking to reassure donors following his weak debate performance, Biden said he was “done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in the bullseye,” CNN reported.
Trump himself has a long history of aggressive rhetoric. He has said individuals in the United States illegally are “poisoning the blood” of the country and has said some are “animals.” He has called Black prosecutors who have brought cases against him “animals.”
Biden and Democrats forcefully condemned the shooting. Biden and Trump spoke on Saturday night, and Biden on Sunday said the two men had a short but good conversation. He also called for unity.
“We cannot allow this to happen,” Biden said.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, said in a statement that violence “only begets more violence.” He called political violence a threat to the democratic system and fundamental American values.
“Violence has absolutely no place in the United States of America. In the strongest possible terms, I unequivocally condemn last night’s despicable, cowardly assassination attempt of the former president, and I am beyond relieved that Mr. Trump is safe and expected to make a swift, full recovery,” Cleaver said.
As the investigation continues, Cleaver urged a recommitment to civility, respect and non-violence in politics.
Cleaver’s Republican opponent, Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith, emphasized the importance of setting a good example by working on problems instead of attacking people.
“We have got to cool off the rhetoric,” Smith said.
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