Reactions from faith leaders and fellow politicians to Donald Trump’s narrow escape from an apparent assassin’s bullet called upon God’s protection for the former president and for the nation.
“May God protect all who serve us,” wrote Albert Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Seminary, on X after news broke Saturday evening (July 13) that shots had been fired at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, shortly after the candidate took the stage. “Thankful former President Trump is safe. We need to know what happened here. This kind of attack is an attack upon our entire political system and our commitment to ordered liberty. Let’s pray for our nation.”
Mohler’s sentiments about the dangers of political violence were echoed across the religious spectrum in the United States. “There can be no place for violence, political or otherwise, in our nation,” said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. “This is a dangerous moment and we must all appeal to the better angels of our nature. We are praying for President Trump’s health and for all those injured.”
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, in his statement on X wrote, “I ask you to join me in prayer for Donald Trump’s health and for our country to pull together in peace during these divisive times.”
Others were moved to thank God that the assailant, who was killed by Secret Service, was not successful. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, also on X, “I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”
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Franklin Graham, the head of his father’s Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, similarly posted simply, “I thank God that former President @realDonaldTrump is alive.”
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida went further, proclaiming that “God protected Donald Trump,” seeming to bolster the notion, popular among some conservative Christians, that Trump has been ordained by God to lead the country.
Paula White, a Pentecostal pastor who headed the White House Faith-Based Office in the Trump administration and recruited many members of the former president’s informal evangelical advisory board, also imbued the incident with a broader scope. “They have tried to destroy this man from the day he walked down the escalator,” she wrote on X, accompanied by a picture of Trump with Jesus over his shoulders. “They lied on him, slandered him, tried to impeach him, tried to imprison him and now have tried to kill him.”
One spectator was killed and two critically injured during the attack, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, and the Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, offered a prayer for Trump and for “the family of the individual who was killed as well as others who were injured.”
“Keep (Trump) safe, protect the innocent, and guard all those who serve our nation, including the brave members of the Secret Service,” they said in a statement, adding, “help us to find a better way to live together in your beloved community.”
Many political and faith leaders, even as they prayed for Trump, also asked for prayers for the country as a whole, and particularly America’s polarized political landscape. “We need to pray for the healing of our land, and for a safe and peaceful election this November,” wrote Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, on X.
U.S. Rep Mike Kelly, a Republican who represents Butler in Congress, told NBC News, “People of faith, tomorrow on Sunday morning, go to wherever it is that you worship, drop to your knees and pray for America.”
Historian Jemar Tisby, author of “The Color of Compromise,” posted on X, “In the rush of our first reflexes and the chaos of the moment, we need a spirit of peace more than ever.” He shared a quote from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., warning against “returning violence for violence.”
In the rush of our first reflexes and the chaos of the moment, we need a spirit of peace more than ever. pic.twitter.com/bAMyXqYL5Y
— JemarTisby.Substack.com. (@JemarTisby) July 14, 2024
Those who have blamed Trump in the past for creating these divisions took no solace in seeing their warnings come to pass. Samuel L. Perry, professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma and the author, with Andrew Whitehead, of “Taking America Back for God,” has expressed concern that the former president’s association with Christian nationalist ideas could raise the level of political violence in the country.
“Nothing good can come from this,” Perry posted on social media on Saturday. “Heartbreaking, infuriating, and so deeply concerning for our country.”
Paul O’Donnell is editor-in-chief of Religion News Service.
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71 Responses
Making statements such as the ones we see here miss the depth of and nature of how tragic this was, and miss the heights from which we, as a society have fallen from. A man died…a man that was a protector and former Fire Chief, a husband, father, brother and devoted friend. The constant immature childish behavior and rhetoric over these years of reckless name calling, blaming, castigation and unwholesome talk has culminated in a young man driven mad and a man’s life being taken, of which little is being spoken of, not to mention the two people who are still seriously wounded.
Language matters, out of the mouth the heart speaks and life and death are in the power of the tongue. The root of this is the deep sinful sickness and lust for power, control and success. Winning at all costs actually destroyed a family – the words these folks speak ring hollow and hurtful to the ones who paid a price – the ultimate price!
What do these type of statements, goofy pictures of angels covering Tump, pictures of the flag at the event resembling an angel do? I’ll tell you…they reveal our deep sickness for a human savior and lust for a human King to lead us! God help us to quit using toxic words about the other to incite and provoke others to anger and rage just to prove a political point. All sides need Jesus, repentance and a true awakening to the reality that our sin has found us out.
Fred Kison you are on target here with your comment. Thank you.
What do these type of statements, goofy pictures of angels covering Trump, pictures of the flag at the event resembling an angel do? I’ll tell you…they reveal our deep sickness for a human savior and lust for a human King to lead us!
Well said Fred. It’s like Jesus isn’t enough for some people. That is too boring. They must have Jesus AND an earthly kingdom. Isn’t this the reason that many Jews missed Jesus? They were looking for a conquering hero strongman Messiah.
Satan offered Jesus this earthly kingdom and He turned it down. Now the Church is trying to take it over for Him.
Why is it that all the preachers who I ever heard warning against falling for the antichrist have all fallen for Trump?
Fred – very well said. And it both frightens and saddens me that neither side is taking any accountability for setting the tone and lighting the match that ignited all of this. It’s a bunch of “this is a war, so we use language of war!”, “but our side was right when we said it!”, “why aren’t you calling out that they said this first?!” That is not the response of repentance, accountability, or having learned ANY lessons. It’s a language of people still stuck in an ego-centric fight to be right and position themselves to gain the most power this November.
I pray that it doesn’t have to get worse – with more lives lost – before it gets better.
Fred, I could not have said it better. One thing I would add is that the primary meaning of the commandment (one of the 10) to not take the Lord’s Name in Vain is to not put words into God’s mouth that HE DID NOT SAY! This is false prophecy at its core. It does not matter if the words speak of future events, or God just sharing his heart about what He thinks, feels about something we are doing. As far as I personally know, God may have or just as likely may not have intervened with Trump. Because I do not know I am not going to proclaim such a thing one way or the other. To do so without God actually telling me such a thing would be to step on the 3rd Commandment. I might even guess such a thing correctly, but that still would not make it right.
To me all of these fake “Christian” celebrities are stepping all over this commandment as none of them hear anything from God. If they did it would likely be “REPENT!” They are leveraging God’s actual power to promote themselves with many lies. They operate in the true Spirit of the False Profit.
Amen and amen. “God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her…..”
Sadly, this whole incident drives the cult-like devotion to Trump to new depths for a lot of Christians.
This is an actual headline in a right wing journal.
Jesus Christ Is Donald Trump’s Security Detail
BY: JOY PULLMANN
JULY 17, 2024
Trump’s assassination escape is direct and clear evidence that, yes, there is a God, and He divinely intervenes in human affairs.
It’s funny how God intervened for Trump, but not for the other victims.
So if Jesus is ok with an unregenerate pagan who clearly stated that he doesn’t need forgiveness since he has done nothing wrong, then I want nothing to do with Jesus. Likewise if Jesus only gives ***t about Trump and not other victims, then I want nothing to do with Jesus. If being a Christian means you become a MAGA-worshipping, Trump-following bullying, *****le, then I want no part of it. I would rather spend my time in Hell thank you very much.
At my church we prayed for peace and against all political violence, committed against or committed by people with power. We prayed for people to wield peace rather than guns locally and globally.
And then we continued in our series on the Sermon on the Mount.
For those who may see this as God’s protection of God’s anointed, it echoes the time when a certain gentleman of the 1930’s applied the same principle to himself. Even Archie Bunker did the same, after a loaded pallet landed on his lunchbox on the loading dock where he worked.
I wonder how much the engineered association of our former President with Adolf Hitler and the toxic vitriol by the legacy media has engendered this horrific action this past weekend. If indeed Trump is Hitler, then the actions of the young man would only be consistent with the actions of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. While former President Trump has many flaws, he is neither an angel nor a devil. I love the letter by his wife Melania Trump which called for unity. We, too casually, invoke God in all these matters. His way far surpasses our own. He is sovereign over creation and this nation. I agree with the comments that call for humbling and repentance with the Body of Christ. We have not comported ourselves in the spirit but relied on our own desires and understanding. Let us indeed pray for peace, but there can be no peace without Christ, only the sword.
Fred’s statement was so beautifully comprehensive that there seemed to be nothing left to say.
But then you implied Melania’s call for unity was praiseworthy.
It is. It was also self-serving and wholly too late. Her first and main concern was for how her and Barron’s lives. Where has her call for unity been when the threats of violence have been so pervasive toward others, starting with, and in support of, her husband?
Mrs. Comperatore has not heard from Trump or Melania. She refused to take a call of condolence from President Biden because of her late husband’s views.
Truth matters! To say the violent rhetoric has been, and still is, on both sides is simply not true. It isn’t even close. There is enormous proof available for anyone who is pretending otherwise.
If it is true that the Trumps have not personally contacted the Comparatores, that is indeed unfortunate. They have, however, created a support fund for them, which is something.
Former President Trump’s office contacted Mrs. Comperatore on July 15th and He talked with her on July 16th. She declined President Biden’s call to honor her husband and accepted Former President Trump call for the same reason.
As to my initial post, I repent for choosing words that only stoke the rhetoric that has only become amplified instead of following Philippians 4:8. Each side thinks that they are in the right. Obviously, only God is perfectly in the right and we on all sides are likely wrong. Our pride and self-righteousness grieve God. As Mr. Kison clearly pointed out, our sin has found us out. I shall post less and allow others like Mr. Kison represent what needs to be shared. Peace.
Atam,
Please don’t stop posting. I find your opinions to be a humbling and thought provoking. That being said, (haha!) I post because truth matters and your statement, “I wonder how much the engineered association of our former President with Adolf Hitler and the toxic vitriol by the legacy media has engendered this horrific action …” is falsely accusatory.
“Last April, … Ivana Trump told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that from time to time her husband reads a book of Hitler’s collected speeches, “My New Order,” which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed. Kennedy now guards a copy of “My New Order” in a closet at his office, as if it were a grenade.”
As president, Trump reportedly complained that America’s military leaders were not “totally loyal” to him, telling his chief of staff, retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, “Why can’t you be like the German generals?”
“They said Hitler said that,” Trump said Tuesday after he again told the crowd in Iowa that immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of America.”
“I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a****** like Nixon … or that he’s America’s Hitler. How’s that for discouraging?” (JD)Vance writes in the message.
The association is rooted in evidence, not “engineered”.
Yes! Mrs. Comperatore should honor her late husband. We should all give honor to whom honor is due. You can’t take a phone call of condolences from the president? Mr. Comperatore’s media post confirms there wasn’t anything to be gained personally from the call. It is reported that Trump contacted her “after” she confirmed to the media that he had not contacted her.
Peace indeed, my brother.
“Paula White, …….“They have tried to destroy this man from the day he walked down the escalator,” she wrote on X, accompanied by a picture of Trump with Jesus over his shoulders. “They lied on him…..to impeach him…. imprison him and now have tried to kill him.”
THIS statement is the crux of all the problem. This pastoress has not learnt since her catastrophic role as a ‘spiritual advisor’. Still deifying and glorifying a rather immoral, unethical, unscrupulous character who have distorted, damaged and disintegrated Christianity and the Name of Yeshua.
This is not time to be invoking the LORD’s anointed rhetoric. Could this also be said to be ” a warning for Trump and evangelicals to repent and reevaluate themselves “. How about “Mr. Ex president, Repent. Before it is too late.”
No. Trump is not King Cyrus, nor Daniel, nor Joseph. US is NOT ancient Israel. The global church is today’s Israel. The church should be judging themselves and their corrupt leaders. This tragic incident is the result of attempting to force ‘Christianity” on unbelievers. And it will only get worse if evangelicals do not re-evaluate themselves.
HaShem did not ask Israel to make gentile nations around them believe YHVH. The prophets did not preach repentance to gentile nations, but to Israel. Joseph did not force YHVH on Egypt. Daniel did not force YHVH on Babylon. Yeshua did not attempt to force HIMSELF on Rome. HIS disciples and apostles also did not attempt to make Rome Christian.
Christians in whatever nation you are, PLEASE stop trying to force Christianity on your country’s government. Pray for YHVH’s will in your country’s leadership NOT who you think is “godly”. Focus on the church’s government; and clean up your OWN house FIRST ( 1 Peter 4:17).
Amen, let’s clean up our own house first!
Seraphina, you make several assumptions here. First, you assume that those claiming that Trump is authorized by God and represented as a major view is correct. It is not. And this is providing the false conclusion that support for Trump has ruined Christianity’s witness. It has not. It’s been that way for awhile now for a variety of factors. You also assume that those bad actors within Trump supporters are Christian’s to begin with that can even be held accountable. You then seem to conclude that the majority Trump supporter is wanting Christianity to become the US religion. You couldn’t be further from the truth. By the way, did not Jonah preach to a gentile nation per God’s orders? Was not God’s promise to Abraham to make all people blessed thru him? Joseph and Daniel did not make government decisions in a vacuum. God gave us guidance on what government should be and we have the privilege to have a voice to shape that. God’s will works thru his word. Lastly, this sort of political atmosphere is nothing new. Did you all forget the many calls for George W. Bush’s death by the left 20 years ago no matter how much Bush bent the knee to their narrative.
So Gods guidance to slaughter people so Israel could take their land is germaine to current day events, correct? Since we are using old testament examples. God gave us guidance through the New Testament that people
Sold all their possessions and shared them… have you followed their lead?
Bob, my point was that the word “force” was not clear enough and it can’t mean God does not engage or use governments. Regarding the NT reference, that’s comes from a historical book and that is a description of what the early house churches were doing and not a mandate. Seems like you are trying to either divert the discussion or make a point about the role of government’s control of property.
Paula White- “…now have tried to kill him.”
That is just a bald face lie.
The shooter was a white 20 year old Republican who lived in a Republican household.
I don’t remember Republicans blaming Ted Kennedy and Top O’Neill for trying to kill Ronald Reagan when he was shot.
Why do we Christians today tolerate (and generate) these kind of lies?
And Ben Carson repeating the same lie at the GOP convention that “they” (the left, the ‘deep state’) tried to kill Trump, when it was a white 20 year old Republican kid.
“Then, they tried to kiII him- and there he is over there alive and well.”
Why are Christians spreading these lies? Why are we the source of so many lies?
Let’s just say that if the so-called “Deep State” wanted Trump dead, they would not have missed. Even if one presumes that the dead shooter was a patsy like some people claim about Oswald, then the other shooter(s) would not have missed. And they certainly would not have used a .223 AR rifle at 130 meters to do it. The Texas Book Depository only works once, especially when you have Secret Service counter sniper teams doing overwatch.
Historically, one must remember you only get 1 chance to kill the king, so you better make it count. Using a disturbed 20 year old with mediocre marksmanship with a .223 rifle at 130 meters in the presence of at least 2 counter sniper teams is not how a “deep-state conspiracy” or sinister cabal would do it.
But then facts, logic, and common sense tend to be lacking in the conspiracy prone and they are completely ignorant or deliberately ignore Occam’s Razor.
There are 300 to 400 million guns floating around in the U.S.
A bullet from an AR-15 rifle when shot can travel 1.5 miles.
Yes lets pray for peace in our churches………….
Also let us ask why Americans are idiots….
Gordon, I think you are being a little loose with your language “floating”. Law-abiding owners have control of their firearms.
Also, what does the total range of a rifle have anything to do with your point? There is pistol ammo that can travel a football field distance. A rock from a slingshot can kill a large man.
Sort of poisoning the well there with that “idiot” comment. Is that any way to engage a useful discussion on peace and defense in this fallen world?
@Joe
Some questions…..
1. What gun did the shooter ask for from his dad?
2. Is it a necessary to own a gun that can fire a bullet 1.5 miles?
3. What type of special training do people have to have for an AR-15?
4. Do people have to undergo any type of medical exam before firing an AR-15?
5. Is there a requirement that people are mentally fit before having the ability to fire an AR-15?
6. Is there any type of special licensing required before a person can own a gun that fires 1.5 miles?
7. Are police allowed to determine if a AR-15 firearm is secured properly in someone’s house?
I could go on with dozens of other questions…
Yes some people secure their guns at home and the ammo is in a safe, but other folks have a loaded gun in a shoebox in the closet.
The shooter chose an AR-15 just like many other shooters, because it is a devastating military grade weapon… hence the questions…
A society that allows military-grade weapons without any training or other requirements… yes are idiots…
To answer some of your questions, the 1.5 mile range is the _maximum_ range of the bullet.
The .223 round (which the AR-15 round uses) is a fast round, and only really used and effective at close ranges (around 100 – 200 yards). Here is some information on the round:
https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/223-ballistics/
They would used in varmint hunting (though they can used for deer hunting at short ranges)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varmint_hunting
The AR-15 is based off a military design, but it is not a military weapon per se. It is a semi-automatic rifle that fires 1 shoot with each pull of the trigger. Semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols have been used for a good 100 years for hunting, target shooting, etc. The problem is that because it looks “scary” people want to ban the AR-15, when in terms of functionality, advantages, disadvantages, etc. they are no different that other semiautomatic designs.
Semi-automatic refers to a firearm that uses the force of recoil or gas to eject the empty case and load a fresh cartridge into the firing chamber for the next shot and which allows repeat shots solely through the action of pulling the trigger.
it’s a bit disingenousl to say that people just don’t like the AR-15 because it “looks scary”. we dislike it because it IS a military style weapon, designed to most effeceintly annhialate life. it is the gun of choice to do the most damage in the smallest amount of time, as evidenced by this latest shooting. and it is, apparently, very attractive to disturbed white men in their 20s.
I won’t correct everything wrong here, but a couple things:
Ar-15 is just the platform which can be chambered in different calibers other than the common 5.56/223.
Here’s an incomplete but common list of cartridges that the AR-15 rifle can run:
.22LR;
.223/5.56;
300BLK;
7.62×39;
6.8 SPC II;
6.5 Grendel;
6mm ARC;
.450 Bushmaster;
.300 Legend;
.350 Legend;
.458 SOCOM;
.50 Beowulf.
The bullet from a 5.56 can travel up to 4300 yards under the optimal circumstances, which is close to 2.5 miles, not 1.5 miles.
The AR-15 platform is commonly used in so many shootings only because the script calls for it. They are in charge of the media molding public perception everyday.
Jen,
Perhaps you are unaware that the old Springfield or Mauser bolt-action rifle that your dad used for hunting was originally a military weapon.
Charles, so were muskets. weaponry has clearly advanced, and I would suggest it’s advanced beyond our feelble interpretations of 2A. We refuse to regulate anything because the gun lobby has everyone convinced that will mean strict prohibition.
my point is that these weapons main function is doing the most damage quickly. We have not figured out how to keep these out of the hands of people who use them to do the most damage quickly, so we need a different tact.
I think we should let the free market fix it, after all, that’s what got us into this mess we’re in now. make everyone in the line of ownership of guns used for crimes liable. it will have no impact on responsible gun owners, except maybe less access to guns commonly used in crimes. Gun owners will get more serious about safely storing their guns, and reporting them stolen. straw purchases will disappear because gun sellers will get VERY serious about guns only being sold to responsible owners; especially if it means when guns used in crime are traced to them they’ll go bankrupt. They’ll come up with the MOST effective background checks. And gun manufacturers will figure out how to make and manufacture guns with safety features. and they’ll stop making common crime guns, and change their marketing- if they want to stay in the gun business. And again- it will only impact people who are irresponsible with guns.
Gordon, it doesn’t take an AR-15 to kill someone from long range. Military-grade does not make a deference in devastation compared to hunting rifles or a knife at close range. So please review your questions with the words “kitchen knife” instead of AR-15 and then you wouldn’t make such a conclusion that people are idiots who weigh excessive invasion of privacy and control over the majority who are responsible vs the risk of living in a free society. So what is the right distance for a weapon that would be acceptable in your view of a peaceful world?
@Joe,
I have many requirements but here is one:
Does the bullet fired from a weapon obliterate a human head from 50 yards / 100 yards / 150 yards etc.
Based on that requirement, there would be a great limitation placed on who could have access to that weapon in the U.S..
In many situations, parents now have to provide DNA samples, as their kids heads have been blown off in shootings with AR-15s. To state the obvious, it is really hard to identify a child without a head.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/ar-15-damage-to-human-body/
Joe, he didn’t use a kitchen knife, he used and AR-15. the same gun that many conservative congress people wear as a lapel pin. you can minimize it all you want, but it’s still a fact that this is the gun of choice for these types of crimes.
Gorden,
A rifle (of any caliber larger than about .270) which would include all the traditional rifles and calibers used hunting would do the same at 200+ yards. So by that logic, your granddad’s 30-06 rifle he used for deer hunting should be banned as well.
Gordon/Jen, the controls in place right now are exactly the things you are asking for and about firearms in general. And you miss the point. I’m not minimizing anything. I’m actually trying to show you that your own ideals, no deaths from a weapon even at close range, will result in an outright weapon bans or natural inaccessibility (what lawsuits will result in) for good people to defend themselves on equal ground.
@Joe,
JD Vance at the RNC in Milwaukee said his mee-maw had 19 loaded guns stashed in her house…. that statement resulted in great applause from the audience….
I know White Rural Republican Evangelicals control the gun narrative in the U.S….it is just sad… and pathetic…
Gordon, I agree it is pathetic that one party has to be the place which opposes those who think they know best, do not like being restricted by the constitution, and use emotional appeal to gather support.
Joe – you said:
“I agree it is pathetic that one party has to be the place which opposes those who think they know best, do not like being restricted by the constitution, and use emotional appeal to gather support.“
I feel the same way. But probably not about the party you expect.
While I am very grateful that former President Trump was not injured badly, talking about God’s protection at this point would be a bitter pill for the family of the man who lost a loved one and the ones who were badly injured. Does God only care about prominent politicians? This situation is a tragedy requiring prayer for all those harmed, but we need to be slow and thorough before assigning blame.
Barb, that is so true. I’m sick of hearing Evangelical Christians claim “God is in control!” while leaving unanswered the question of why Trump is alive and Corey Comperatore is not. Unless God has favorites. I suppose we could always take refuge in Calvin’s question-begging escape devices which Christians seem eager to grasp when facing an impossible question: an appeal to the inscrutability of the ways of God, God’s sovereignty or some mysterious plan. As for the shooter, Christians appear to simultaneously reject determinism and indeterminism and to reject causality while positing causes. Thus goes the “logic”.
LOST: that describes the soul of Thomas Matthew Crooks. Sadly, he did not know the great love our SAVIOR, LORD JESUS had for him. Did he ever hear the glad tidings of comfort and joy? Probably not.
This young man was “bullied” and branded as unimportant. Did he think his life was meaningless? Was his rogue action his way of shouting back at the world that “I will force you to see me”?
Most of the mass killers don’t have any agenda beyond their cry of “I am here.” Thomas Matthew Crooks has just joined that queue of forever lost souls. As John Donne said, “the death of any man diminishes me.”
As we reflect, please put your focus where it truly belongs: only JESUS. As our blessed President Abraham Lincoln so poignantly wrote after the hatred of the War Between the States, “we need to REDEDICATE” ourselves to the higher ideals of the true hope of UNITY that was the driving force of our nation’s creation.
We need to stop trying to be the god of other people’s lives and love one another. Just love one another. Yes, love one another!
LORD JESUS commanded that. Do we truly love him, or ourselves and the world? I am redeficating myself to being a true follower of my one and only LORD and SAVIOR. This is my prayer for our shattered and broken world. Please, love one another!
Knowing that TV (tell-a-vision) has been key to the American political realm’s ability to manipulate and shape the viewer’s mind, one can use common sense and logic to observe anomalies regarding the alleged assassination attempt that leaves me with at least several dozen questions to disbelieve the official narrative.
A couple of the biggest anomalies are Trump’s minimal/seemingly scripted response to what is most likely a supersonic (breaks sound barrier) bullet hitting his earlobe. Just the sheer sound of it traveling that close, let alone piercing his ear, should’ve warranted an automatic/immediate bodily response of pulling down and away from the loud sound, but his initial response was merely to reach for his ear, and then duck for cover.
Secondly, the ears, like the scalp, produce and overly abundant amount of blood compared to the rest of the body. Having received sufficient amounts of head wounds I can verify I was shocked at how little blood flowed (white shirt collar not stained) which is why I think Trump released a contradictory statement later that insisted a lot of blood was present.
The Scripture tells us, Ye that love the LORD, hate evil. (Psalm 97:10). A select few are getting rich and powerful from massive deceptions, while the rest of us will suffer, and perhaps perish from the result of their fraudulent activities. I’m frankly tired of their manipulation tactics to divide people, and or to keep them in the political con game.
You really need to read up on physics and neurology before making these comments. The muzzle velocity of a 5.56mm round is around 1100 meters per second. The speed of sound at sea level is 343 m/s. At 130 meters, it only takes the round around 0.12 seconds to reach the target, the sound created by the shot (and the sonic boom (which is the shock wave of something as it breaks the sound barrier)) take 0.38 seconds to reach. The sensation of the round on the ear would travel to the brain in about 10-20 ms and the response to begin moving the muscles would take another 10-20 ms and the muscle contractions about 100-200 ms thereafter. So the reaction, flicking of the ear, would happen right about the time the sound reaches the ear and is received in the brain. Of course, comprehending what it is, conscious of where it is coming from, etc. will take some time as well.
And as for ear bleeding, you are wrong. The outer ear is mostly cartilage which contains no nerves or blood vessels. If there was too much bleeding, people would not pierce the lobe nor the pinna. You may want to brush up on your anatomy in addition to your physics and neurology.
Charles, I guess I can safely assume you’ve never been near the path of an incoming projectile? This is probably where classroom smarts is most useful when combined with street smarts (I have a little of both). 🙂
Trumps ear will hear the sound of the bullet separating air molecules in flight long before he hears the report of the rifle or the sonic boom. The loud sound of the traveling bullet at supersonic speed (fffsssstttt) right through his ear, plus the sting of penetration, would in most cases produce an immediate autonomous bodily response of pulling the head away and down from said shocking noise/pain.
Happens all the time when people hear the buzz and feel the sting of a bee on their ear.
We’ll have to disagree on the volume of blood from an ear puncture – got some more street smarts I could share.
There are a host of other anomalies that when added up make zero believable sense, but do make for a good political theater which the USA is known for.
And the speed of that response (even for a reflex arc – assuming that response is one) 120 m/s, so the reaction is NOT immediate. The bullet would have already long passed. And that ffffsssttt (or buzzing sound some have described it) is due to the vortex shedding and the shock wave of the bullet as it passes. It is NOT long before crack of the sonic boom when it leaves the barrel. Try about 100 – 200 milliseconds.
https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2022/11/bullet-flight-video-reveals-shock-wave-and-bullet-base-drag/
The turbulence in the bullet’s wake are the vortices being shed.
Of course this assumes Trump or his mind understands what it is (and not a bee or fly buzzing in his ear).
Ok, so now you’re arguing about the subjective definitions of immediate and long?
My original point still stands: loud noise (ffffsssst) combined with sting in ear should cause the response of head pulled down and away with hand coming up. His response of just hand to ear, then ducking for cover seemed like Hollywood script, especially combined with the commie fist pump when he gets up from the pile of secret circus agents.
Did they check for bullet holes anywhere else in his body while he was down there? Why in the world would they let him expose his head again like that when they had no idea of whether more gunmen were involved or ready to fire? Must’ve needed a few iconic photos from Anna Moneymaker to boost his net worth.
True story: I spoke with a friend about some of my observations. He said he was with his very elderly neighbor at the time of the shooting, and they were watching it on TV. His neighbor is retired from one of the alphabet lettered intelligence agencies, and held a position very close to the top before retiring. The first statement out of this person’s mouth was that it appeared to them that Trump had fake blood on him.
Everyone should be questioning everything they see that comes from the media before they believe it. The technological abilities with AI are mind blowing. Deception is so easily accomplished.
The writer doesn’t say anything about Biden telling the world to put a target on Trump’s back but he insinuates Trump was at fault for his own injuries. We have 2 Presidential nominees to choose from. One is for abortion one is for not killing babies. Abortion is always my litmus test as ALL Christians should do.
Trump backed off full abortion ban because it’s not politically expedient. Abortions increased since rvw overturned.
I don’t really care to defend Biden, but you are clearly being obtuse about what Biden said. Unlike Trump who inarguably started the jan 6 riot.
… by telling his supporters to march “peacefully and patriotically.”
But thank you for at least having enough sense to not call it an “insurrection.”
in·sur·rec·tion
/ˌinsəˈrekSH(ə)n/
1. a violent uprising against an authority or government.
“THE FACTS: Trump did tell the crowd to march “peacefully and patriotically” to the Capitol. But he also used far more incendiary language when speaking off the cuff in other parts of the speech, such as telling the crowd: “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
“Donald Trump knew members of the crowd at his rally near the White House on 6 January 2021 were armed, but demanded security apparatus be removed to allow them closer, and then instructed the crowd to march on the US Capitol, a witness told the January 6 committee.
“Cassidy Hutchinson, aide to ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified former president didn’t care people had guns on them.”
“The GoFundMe, which says it is “President Trump authorized” is organized by Meredith O’Rourke who is also Trump’s top finance person.”
“A high-profile fundraiser for the victims… has raised over $4 million, with TOP DONORS including Dana White and Kid Rock.”
Facts matter.
It’s really telling when the left’s calls for violence are never addressed but Trump is “inarguably” a fascist because he said to “fight.” These obvious and blatant double standards make me realize that the average population really isn’t all that intelligent and can’t sparse truth out for themselves but can readily believe their parrot of choice. Think for yourselves. Question authority.
Sarah right on point. In my post above I tried to remind everyone about how many calls for Bush’s death were made by public left leaders. Then there was the attempt on republicans at the baseball game a few years ago.
To which I would point out the rhetoric against Nancy Pelosi resulted in someone trying to kill her (but instead severely injuring her husband). Then there is Jan 6th….
They will just say we’re using “whataboutism” because they have no defense for what they’re trying to separate themselves from. They point fingers and say the right is violent, but don’t check themselves. That’s the problem. They can throw out accusations, but when accusations are made against them it’s the usual “Yeah, but we accused you first, so now you can’t accuse us or you’re behaving like a child.” They have no righteous defense for blaming one side and not the other, so they just continue on with their heads in the sand. Maxine Waters, The Squad, the radicals they prop up that attempt to rewrite history (Nikole Hannah Jones and the New York Times’ 1619 project, Robin DiAngelo and White Fragility, Ibram X Kendi and How to Be an Antiracis, Patrice Cullors, who openly admitted to being a “trained Marxist” and the BLM movement) have made several veiled, and open, calls to burning down our entire constitution and rebuilding a government in their own eyes. As if being hostile toward the fabric of our nation isn’t being violent…hidden and insidious evil is still evil.
the right regularly takes Donald trumps rhetorical calls to “fight” to mean violence. They harass and stalk anyone he hints at disliking on twitter.
the left regularly takes Bidens rhetorical calls to “fight” to mean voting.
Both politicians use rhetoric, but their voting blocks do not respond the same way. And trump doesn’t correct his when they respond violently, he often encourages it. he also uses directly, rather than metaphorically, violent language (“I wish someone would punch that guy” not “fight for our democracy”)
someone will bring up the 2020 protests (which were 98% peaceful) and I’ll note that those happened organically because of police violence, not at the direction of any politician.
Sarah and Joe –
Do you recall Marjorie Taylor Greene supporting the notion of prominent Democrats being executed, and liking comments stating “a bullet to the head of Nancy Pelosi would be quicker” and “now can we hang Hilary and Obama”? She even replied to the latter with “Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient.”
That is unacceptable. MTG’s response? “Many people run my social media.” No denial. No denouncing such violent rhetoric. Just deflection.
Yet conservatives – including Christians – were SILENT. They have even gone on to reelect this woman since then.
So no side can play victim, martyr or moral police here.
Aren’t we tired of finger pointing, blaming and whataboutisms? It’s like we never learned the kindergarten lesson of “but they do it too!” is UNACCEPTABLE. When will we admit that this response does NOT address the problem or move anyone or anything to change?
As Christians, we are to set the example of how to respond to sin – and that is via reflection, confession, and repentance, and turning to the Lord – not “it’s a double standard! they do it too! and if you don’t see it you’re not intelligent!”
Marin, no I don’t support that sort of rhetoric but don’t assume I do also. In my lifetime, my general observation is that the left has been more hostile (not just physical hostility) to the constitution and those who support it. It is the broader support over a longer period of time. I don’t make this argument to overlook particular. It informs me of the broader moods and political movements which are just as evil as your concerns. As you stated elsewhere, we can’t be one issue voters such as only ones past moral behavior or the way things are said. We have to weigh all of it.
I remember many radical leftists during my lifetime. One blew up a capital building and was pardoned by Clinton. I remember Maxine Waters encouraging people to harass others. I remember leftist radicals being emboldened to get in the faces of women, who were/are rightfully speaking up about their concerns in men being able to claim womanhood. I’ve seen many videos of the “mostly peaceful” protests where Molotov cocktails and bricks were thrown through innocent shopkeepers’ windows. I remember hearing crowds of people chanting “ACAB! Death to all cops!” and the left encouraging it. I remember the left encouraging children to see their white peers as their oppressors and enemies and their black peers as victims, as if that won’t stoke any sort of hatred or violence. I remember our sitting president saying he didn’t want his kids growing up in a racial jungle, but no apology or accountability calls from the left for him doing so. You all think you’re squeaky clean because societal culture has convinced you the only way to stand on the right side of history is to be on the left, but the world is ALWAYS wrong. I’m a conservative Christian who is not sycophant for Trump and won’t vote for him, but I’m also not voting for a system that continually attempts to strip liberty and freedom from the people in the name of safety or their perception of what’s “right,” when their system of governance always requires more government which leads to more “wrong,” every time. You’re not going to be able to play on my heartstrings and make me feel bad for having open eyes. They’ve got you right where they want you; afraid, hopeless, and angry.
“You all think you’re squeaky clean because societal culture has convinced you the only way to stand on the right side of history is to be on the left, but the world is ALWAYS wrong.”
Sarah – I LITERALLY said neither side can play victim, martyr or moral police here. We can point to troublesome messaging and behavior on both sides.
I also note that you said NOTHING about the troublesome remarks made by Marjorie Taylor Greene, further proving how Christians are silent when the message was putting a bullet in Nancy Pelosi’s head or hanging Hilary and Barack.
I stand by my remark: that is unacceptable. It’s unfortunate you see it as “playing on your heartstrings” to see references to putting bullets in skulls and hanging leaders one disagrees with as unacceptable.
So yes, I’m afraid….of those – especially Christians – who don’t see it as unacceptable. I fear more tragedies will have to happen before we can ALL agree it’s problematic.
What do you think it will take?
Lord, help us.
You say the world is ALWAYS wrong….was the world wrong about racial integration? Integrating was viewed as leftist and progressive, with MANY church conservatives (whom I can quote) believing it was “God’s intent to keep the races separate.” Was that the wrong side of history? Like it or not, the church has some blemishes on its record that it took the world to point out.
I’d be careful of speaking in absolutes.
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition,
“Former President Donald J Trump over the weekend escalated vows to prosecute his political opponents, circulating posts on his social media website involking “televised tribunals” and calling for the jailing of President Biden, Vice president Kamala Harris, Senators…” NYT
These kinds of continuous statements are reasons for the fascist label. Uninformed, possibly “really isn’t all that intelligent” are reasons why his followers pretend the criticism is unjustified.
Debra, that is a biased definition from wikipedia. Fascism can come from the left also.
Joe,
I detest the left-right labels. Anyway, most of us are somewhere in the middle. The “far-right” label is appropriate, but here’s a definition from the Webster dictionary:
“Fascism refers to a way of organizing society with an emphasis of autocratic government, dictatorial leadership, opposition leadership, and the suppression of opposition.”
It is like any “Dateline” episode where a parent, usually the father, was convicted with overwhelming evidence of murdering the mother, and the children STILL claim he’s innocent.
Read Project 2025. Maybe you have and you’re in support of it.
Come on, in what way is the term applicable to the “other side”?
any christian who has abortion as their litmus test should not vote for republicans, as their policies increase rather than decrease abortion rates. they say the “right” things to keep your vote, and even get the supreme court justices who will overturn roe as a token gift- but it’s all about money and power for them, which is clear by the recent supreme court rulings.
and the proof is in the pudding- abortion rates have risen for the first time in decades under trumps presidency. and although they’ve always been dropping since Roe was enacted (until trump, of course), they drop more steelpy in dem administrations, because dem policies actually address the reasons people choose abortion.
if you’re truly pro-life, vote for the candidate that actually reduces abortion, instead of the one who just says the “right” things about it.
https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/despite-bans-number-abortions-united-states-increased-2023
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/03/25/what-the-data-says-about-abortion-in-the-us/
If eliminating abortion were the single issue that grieves the heart of God, I’d be a single-issue voter as well. It isn’t. I am not.
I don’t want kids killed at school or at the border either. I want those who cause others to stumble to get what’s coming. They will. I want every sin against God eliminated. It will be.
Like Bob, I’m not here to campaign for Biden, but Biden’s comment was made in a private setting to wealthy donors. Certainly, he didn’t expect them to become assassins any more than he would expect large donations from working class people. It is a weak accusation not supported with a pattern.
Anyone who retweeted an image of Biden hogtied, or laughed at jokes about Paul Peloski being attacked, support organizations suggesting the necessity of a civil war, listen to the conspiracy theories of a madman, continue to perpetuate the idea that our government is so corrupt that it stole an election, sympathize with J6 rioters, believe our country is so far gone that “strength over diplomacy” is needed, who pretended statements were a joke when it is persistent, anyone who ignored the fact that so many officials and witnesses need security due to threats, is complicit.
If it is an awakening, a lesson learned, great. It is not. It is more gaslighting. It is let’s say, there are instigators – on both sides. Comparatively, there are not. When the arsonist called the fire department because they themselves were trapped in the fire, they are not a victim or a hero. They simply fell into the ditch they dug for others.
Contrary to overwhelming evidence, few criminals confess. It is also why most are also repeat offenders. Acknowledgement precedes repentance. Self-examination is key.
very well said, Debra. Amen and Amen. I hope if falls on ears that can hear.
Lorraine –
Abortion should not be one’s only litmus test as a Christian. And to be pro-choice does not mean one is “for killing babies”. I simply don’t believe my religious beliefs on this matter should be the law of the land (it’s my “choice” and my “choice” would be to keep the baby – which is my personal right and no government should force my choice in either way). I also believe the pro-life policies of the right – which trotted pregnant women whose fetuses were dying through court systems to “prove” they were in medical emergency – are extreme, leave little room for nuance, and humiliated those women, having them wait for days in emotional and physical pain while their privacy was violated and their medical records were put on display. My heart ached for them, and I was embarrased to say I share the same faith as the “Christians” who were putting them through that.
We should know scripture also calls for us to help the poor and elderly, and Jesus sets an example by advocating for and including the marginalized. Therefore, I ALSO look at attitudes and policies of the WH administration and their impact on the poor, elderly and marginalized. And I don’t like what I see out of conservatives in this area.
(We are also warned to “have nothing to do with” the immoral who call themselves Christians, but I’ll leave that alone).
Sarah,
“You’re not going to be able to play on my heartstrings and make me feel bad for having open eyes. They’ve got you right where they want you; afraid, hopeless, and angry.”
Honestly, your post sounds “angry.” You also seem to have some racial animus going on. How could you not be afraid and angry when you seem to separate things into “left vs. conservative”, and “black vs. white.”
“Roger Stone was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller on charges of lying to Congress about what he and then-candidate Trump knew about Russian efforts to discredit Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential campaign, witness tampering and obstruction.” Trump pardoned him.
Bill Clinton pardoned people who had been imprisoned for nearly 20 years and he was “highly” condemned for that decision. Relevancy? Equivalency?
Nowhere today, do children see their friends, teammates, neighbors, peers, co-workers as oppressors and victims. Adults are trying to take us back to that division. The history of the United States – the good, the bad, the ugly, should not be glossed over or buried. Sarah, that is the basis for the conflict.
Kamala Harris was a senator and the Attorney General of our most populated state. MAGA is saying she is simply a DEI hire. Very telling. Very sad. Very offensive. Very ridiculous.
Your “heartstrings”? The world would be more reflective of the love of God, if we were all more “empathetic” toward one another.
“Nowhere today, do children see their friends, teammates, neighbors, peers, co-workers as oppressors and victims. Adults are trying to take us back to that division.”
So true, Debra. Takes me back to when I was a young child. I grew up in a VERY white area, with my family being the ONLY Black one in the neighborhood, and my being one of four Black children in my entire school.
You know what made me notice I was different? Not the other kids my age, who I harmlessly played with at a neighborhood playground. But their parents, who steered them away from me with “we don’t play with those who aren’t our kind” comments (I STILL remember that to this day, and I was four) and didn’t invite me to birthday parties.
The irony? These same parents were elders at the local church up the street. (After one awkward visit, my family traveled across town to a predominantly Black church.)
Oh how we can learn from the hearts of children.
Marin,
Cruelty angers me, especially toward children. Frederick Douglass said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Growing in Christ has to be much harder if you were actually taught how to sin as a child, from your parents.
I am Confused. “We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that does not loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he hasn’t seen?” (1 John 4:19-21) How can this scripture be any clearer?!
Your thoughts reflect compassion and courage. You seem to have “come fourth as gold.”
That assures me that God can use our suffering – for good.