Third time lucky

U.S. President Donald Trump has nine lives after escaping three assassination attempts since 2024. The most recent occurred on April 25, 2026, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. These incidents reveal troubling truths about the USA. They show that violence in American society is not a relic of the past and that it is happening now. The first attempt happened on July 14, 2024. Trump was at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania when a bullet grazed his ear. The shooter was killed by security. Two months later, a suspected assassin fled while Trump played golf in West Palm Beach, Florida. Then on February 22, 2026, an armed intruder entered Mar-a-Lago. He was shot dead by security forces, though Trump was in Washington at the time. These attacks matter for important reasons. First, they show that gun violence in America remains as dangerous. Trump’s politics divides the nation in ways few leaders have managed. He does not seek middle ground and does not compromise. He takes sides and demands loyalty and polarizes everything. Trump campaigned as an outsider by promising to fight “the establishment.” Many voters embraced him as they felt left behind by the system. Those with dwindling incomes and employment felt forgotten. Trump cleverly channeled their anger into a movement to ‘Make America Great Again’. His supporters saw him as authentic and defiant while his critics saw something different. Critics saw racism, dishonesty, and narcissism in Trump. They were concerned that he treats politics like business. This explains why Trump generates such intense reactions, both positive and negative. His MAGA plank has caused real problems at home. He promised economic nationalism through tariffs but instead, prices went up. Families already struggling with inflation faced higher costs for groceries, clothes, and household goods. This backfired on his core promise to help ordinary Americans. Internationally, the damage runs deeper. Trump has strained relations with allies that took decades to build. Nations that once looked to America for leadership now see it as unreliable. At the same time, Trump has pushed the country into war with Iran. This conflict drains resources and lives. Many Americans question why is their country fighting war where they have no stake? The president’s administration raises concerns too. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel are seen as partisan loyalists rather than neutral professionals. Hegseth has forced out military leaders such as – Army Chief of Staff Randy George; Navy Secretary John Phelan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Charles Brown. These purges weaken the morale of the military at a time when the country is fighting a war. The dismissals of the top military officers only serve to signal that loyalty to Trump matters more than experience or expertise. Trump governs more like a corporate boss than a democratic leader. In his companies, he was the emperor and workers obeyed or were fired. He forgets that in government systems, citizens have rights and institutions under it have independence. In a democracy there are checks and balances on power but Trump seems to view these as obstacles, not safeguards. His policies divide the country while his functioning corrodes democratic norms. The latest assassination attempt may boost Trump’s popularity temporarily as Americans often rally behind leaders after violence. However, the underlying problems remain but Trump must realize he cannot be both president of the world’s most powerful nation and Trump international.