An Epic Photo Of A Great Man
It may seem odd to start a post about an assassination attempt on the current frontrunner to be America's next President by talking about a photo, but in this case, it's warranted. As Russell Brand and others noted, barring a heroic amount of ballot stuffing by the Democrats, that photo may be a deciding factor in the election.
And now this iconic image.
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) July 13, 2024
I can’t see how he can lose in November. Well, there is one way… pic.twitter.com/xRtm5KhBzQ
This is mainly due to Trump's courageous (and, frankly, extremely media-savvy) reaction to nearly getting killed: to stand defiantly for a moment pumping his fist and encouraging his followers to fight on. It's a reaction so alien to the left that some of them thought it must have been staged.
https://t.co/HMGHD0a1fq pic.twitter.com/1WQWgNxeI4
— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) July 14, 2024
It seems tactless to claim this assassination attempt was staged when it led to the death of one Trump supporter and a serious injury to another.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured”
— Rothmus 🏴 (@Rothmus) July 14, 2024
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/eB7THfU1SB
The impact of the photo is also due to the brave and talented photographer, Evan Vucci.
Pulitzer-prize winning photographer @evanvucci running across the podium -- amidst gunfire and screams -- to get the iconic photo everyone is sharing pic.twitter.com/DzJ86TX5lL
— Ronen▼ (@RonenV) July 14, 2024
Unsurprisingly, Vucci's avocation, competitive jujitsu, is one where courage is required as well.
This is Evan Vucci, the AP photographer who apparently ran to the assassin's target to take the Iwo Jima-level photo of Trump pumping his fist: pic.twitter.com/OHJuyiYBwv
— Steve Sailer (@Steve_Sailer) July 14, 2024
More Endorsements Of Trump
There were reports at the end of last week that Elon Musk had donated a large amount of money to a Trump PAC, to be officially disclosed this week, so his support for Trump wasn't a secret, but after the assassination attempt, Elon explicitly endorsed Trump.
I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
As did Bill Ackman
I am going to formally endorse @realDonaldTrump. I came to this decision some time ago as many @X followers have already understood from my supportive posts of Trump and my criticisms of @POTUS Biden.
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) July 14, 2024
The reason why I have not yet formally done so is that I want to explain my…
And Peter Schiff.
What a great photo. What a courageous man. First they tried to jail him. When that failed they tried to kill him. Now it's time to elect him. pic.twitter.com/QqB5GQn8C6
— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) July 14, 2024
How Did This Happen?
Many, including Elon Musk, highlighted the apparent incompetence the police and Secret Service in failing to secure a rooftop with a direct sightline to Trump, or to spot the sniper before he struck, despite rally members pointing him out.
I was the Sniper Employment Officer for my battalion and led hundreds of combat missions. There were major security lapses in the security plan that allowed a shooter to engage President Trump from ~130 meters - an easy shot. A 🧵 pic.twitter.com/eim0DzMRw6
— Blake Hall (@Blake_Hall) July 14, 2024
The head of the Secret Service and the leader of this security detail should resign https://t.co/ihlEC5NP1w
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2024
Others noted the female agents on Trump's security detail...
They can’t even holster a gun properly?
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) July 14, 2024
Systemically rot, incompetence and corruption at almost all levels. pic.twitter.com/yBLkKIY6LJ
And the female head of the Secret Service, who was focused on implementing DEI.
CBS News Report reveals what Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has been focused on: diversity hires pic.twitter.com/IoKnY4uj6M
— Matt Batzel (@MattBatzel) July 14, 2024
Still others talked about the Democrat/media demonization of Trump, which may have radicalized the shooter.
This is your newspaper https://t.co/sguw2WZveD pic.twitter.com/tr4nm4VPiV
— Mostly Peaceful Memes (@MostlyPeacefull) July 14, 2024
Occam's Razor suggests it was a combination of both. During Biden's administration, DEI and a general decline in competence have spread though life-and-death fields such as medicine and aviation, as I've posted about here numerous times.
And if you tell your readers and viewers constantly that Trump is a threat to "our democracy", and compare him to Hitler constantly, you are going to radicalize many of them.
It all leads to this.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/yqvRuxUfTa
— Gerry Rainbolt (@LegitBiscuit_) July 14, 2024
And the larger the pool of radicalized people, the more chance one of them will resort to violence.
Other Reactions To The Assassination Attempt On Trump
Russian airmen wrote messages on their glide bombs saying "This is for Trump".
"Hohols, you'll answer for Trump"
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) July 13, 2024
"For Trump"
"For Trump's ear!" pic.twitter.com/Kv8hDC58R1
Some saw a Divine hand at work.
The old texts from the ages of the prophets are all clear that God chooses a few men each generation to shape the earth as He planned. Until those men have played out their roles in full, they cannot be stopped or slain.
— Nemets (@Peter_Nimitz) July 14, 2024
https://t.co/Jymls2vaHT
— John Potter 🌐🩸 e/acc (@jjohnpotter) July 14, 2024
Guy at 11:05 talks about a bullet grazing trump’s ear
Including President Trump:
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 14, 2024
Other's contrasted the courage of Trump after the attempt on his life with the cowardice of Congressmen during January 6th, 2021.
— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) July 14, 2024
UFC fighter Evan Elder saluted Trump after his victory in Denver on Saturday night.
UFC fighter Evan Elder gave a shoutout to President Donald Trump after he was SHOT!!!!
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 14, 2024
"Hey. I heard they just tried to whack my boy Trump. I'm glad that man's okay. Long live Trump. Let's go baby Trump 2024."
pic.twitter.com/hOvcMwqkgb
As did UFC star Conor McGregor
A 78 year old multiple billionaire he should be on a yacht on the med touring golf courses. But he is not. He is in Pennsylvania spitting out bullets! Running for the love of his country! God speed Donald! God bless the United States 🙏❤️
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 13, 2024
Many, including Vivek Ramaswamy, donated to a GoFundMe for the victims of the assassination attempt.
Apoorva and I mourn for the Trump supporters who were killed or wounded in the brutal assassination attempt. Please join us in supporting these proud Americans & their families. God intervened on behalf of our nation last night, let’s do our small part. 🇺🇸https://t.co/YbpjPhpreO
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) July 14, 2024
The Market Reaction
One market open on Saturday evening was the crypto market, which is always open. Bitcoin bounced after Trump survived his assassination attempt.
That makes sense. The optics of Trump's bravery and defiance after the shooting made it more likely that Trump will win in November, and Trump is seen as the pro-Bitcoin candidate--he's even scheduled to speak at a Bitcoin conference this month.
OFFICIAL: 🇺🇸 DONALD TRUMP TO SPEAK AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST #BITCOIN CONFERENCE THIS MONTH! pic.twitter.com/VOqaUpo3tG
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) July 10, 2024
In The Portfolio Armor Substack, we placed our most recent bullish Bitcoin-related trade earlier this month.
I had another Bitcoin-related trade idea teed up for Monday--a Bitcoin miner that ended up in our top ten names on Friday--but whether I place that trade will depend on Monday's market action. If I do place it, subscribers will of course get a heads up as soon as I do.
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