The Attempted Assassination Of Donald Trump And Its Impacts On American Democracy And Security: The Way Forward

After the September 11th terrorist attack, the U.S has initiated major security measures, strategies and polices to safeguard the lives of its citizens and the state internally and externally. Therefore, the attempted assassination of a political figure former President and the current Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump who is seeking re-election into office in the upcoming 2024 U.S General Election at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in which two people were killed can have profound impacts on America's democracy and security, reflecting broader political, social, and security challenges.

The importance of this article is to outline the potential impacts of this incident on U.S democracy and security and the way forward, supported by some references.

Firstly, This incident eroded U.S Democratic Norms: Such an event could be seen as a direct attack on the democratic process, undermining public confidence in the safety and legitimacy of elections in America. The threat to political candidates can discourage public participation in political processes and deter qualified individuals from pursuing political office due to safety concerns.

Secondly, the assassination attempt on D.Trump increased political polarization. This means that an attempted assassination could exacerbate existing political divisions and heighten partisan tensions in American politics especially between the Republicans and the Democrats. Also, Political rhetoric may become more acrimonious, leading to a more deeply divided populace and potentially inciting further acts of political violence.

Also, The attempted assassination has major security implications on U.S security architecture and security policy implementation. This means that, there will be immediate questions about the adequacy of security measures and arrangements in such places to protect political figures and the citizens at those political rallies and events. The FBI, CIA and other secret service's modus operandi must be above the criminals to nullify and prevent such incidents.

This could lead to increased security surveillance and measures at political events that will impact civil liberties and raising concerns about governmental overreach.

Finally, Media and Public Perception will be impacted as well.The media’s role in covering such events can shape public perception, opinions and potentially influencing the political climate (CNN effect). Sensationalist reporting could incite fear and panic, while responsible journalism might contribute to a more measured response.

The Way Forward:
There are some measures that need to be looked at to nip such security lapse in the bud as outlined by this article below;

Strengthening Security Protocols:
The U.S Homeland security must implement and upgrade it's security protocols for political figures, with attention to both physical security and cybersecurity in order to prevent such incidents from happening again. Also, there must be a Collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure comprehensive protection of citizens at all times.

Promoting Responsible Rhetoric:
The political party leaders and the media must be encouraged to adopt more moderate and responsible rhetoric to reduce tensions.There must be an initiative to promote political discourse that emphasizes common ground and shared values.

Civic Education and Public Engagement:

There must be enhancement of civic education to foster a more engaged and informed electorate. Programs that encourage public participation in a safe and secure manner, emphasizing the importance of democratic participation must be adopted.

Conclusion
In conclusion, by addressing these issues, the United States can work toward mitigating the impact of such an event on its democracy and security, while promoting a resilient and unified society.

By Godwin K. Avoryi - (M.A International Relations & Diplomacy) - Security, Migration Consultant & Advocate MDGs 16.

References
1. Political Violence and Democracy - Norris, P. (2020). "Why Elections Fail." Cultural backlash and the rise of authoritarian populism.

Cambridge University Press.
- Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2018). "How Democracies Die." Crown.

2. Security and Policy Response
- Byman, D. L. (2017). "Road Warriors: Foreign Fighters in the Armies of Jihad." Oxford University Press.

- Hoffman, B. (2019). "Inside Terrorism." Columbia University Press.

3. Public Trust and Media Influence
- Sunstein, C. R. (2009). "On Rumors: How Falsehoods Spread, Why We Believe Them, What Can Be Done." Princeton University Press.

- Bennett, W. L., & Livingston, S. (2018). "The Logic of Connective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics." Cambridge University Press.