The Midnight Ping: Reflections on an Unexpected Wake-Up Call

Running a 24/7 medical and travel assistance service means that I am always on call. As a young company, perhaps this will always be the case, but for now, it means that even in the middle of the night, I expect to be woken up by a traveler in need. My mobile phone is a constant companion, delivering instant alerts for important happenings around the world. So, when my news channel apps pinged multiple times during the night, I knew something significant was unfolding.

The headlines reported a shooting during former President Trump's speech in Pennsylvania. As the news kept rolling in, eventually the video of the attempted assassination was broadcast on various channels. The assailant was confirmed to have been shot to death, and his identity was verified. Watching the video, I saw Trump in his signature red baseball cap, grasping at his right ear shortly after what sounded like a firecracker, followed by spectators screaming and further gunshots. The Secret Service reacted swiftly, covering Trump with bodily protection. However, the next steps left me in awe and sent chills down my spine.

Trump, audibly, asked the Secret Service to "wait" before being whisked away as he triumphantly waved a defiant fist into the air. "Wow," I thought. Would I have had the wherewithal to do that? Had the "assassination scenario" played out so often in Trump's head that he knew how he would react, or was he just that quick-witted? I probably would have stayed huddled amidst my security detail. But in the next moment, as the crowd acknowledged that raised fist, they started chanting "USA." The chills ran down my spine, and I had to stop the video. Hearing the loud chanting, it became clear to me that Trump had reached truly reached cult status.

I am not a fan of Trump. I never believed that he would be elected. I was certain he would lose support with the first round of Stormy Daniels news. Then, I was sure he would be demoralized after the E. Jean Carroll trial, where he was found liable for sexual abuse. The list actually goes on and on; we all know it by heart. But he's like the Duracell Bunny: he takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Again, I am not a fan, but it’s a jaw-dropper. While I absolutely and wholeheartedly do not support or wish for Trump's assassination, and am of the opinion that violence should have no role in democratic politics, this incident raises profound questions about the future of American democracy and its global impact.

In the moment Trump raised his fist in defiance, he wrote history and, for his followers, reached a deity-like status. Has this unplanned act sealed the fate of the next election, changing the face of global politics? Trump's resilience underscored Biden’s troubles, especially as Democrats become increasingly despondent about his candidacy. A disastrous debate performance against Trump on June 27 sparked plenty of second guesses about Biden’s odds of holding the White House. Despite calls from some Democrats urging Biden to step aside, he insists that he has what it takes to continue the job for a second term.

With Europe also leaning right through recent elections, does this add gasoline to the fire? Will Trump’s plans remain to leave or reduce American support with NATO? If re-elected, Trump might continue pushing for increased financial contributions from NATO members, arguing that the United States shoulders an unfair share of the burden. This could lead to financial strain on these countries. Additionally, any ambiguity in Trump’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense principle could weaken the alliance’s deterrence strategy. Trump might also reduce U.S. troop deployments in Europe, impacting NATO’s forward presence and rapid response capabilities. A perceived rapprochement with Russia could alter NATO’s strategic priorities and create divisions within the alliance. His leadership style could strain relationships within NATO, affecting the alliance’s ability to operate effectively. Increased pressure to raise defense spending could lead to significant changes in the defense policies of NATO members. If Trump pursues a more isolationist foreign policy, NATO might need to seek new strategic alliances or enhance partnerships with other regions. These potential changes could reshape NATO's strategic priorities and its role in global security, with lasting implications for international relations.

Wars and the roller coaster of politics have always existed. They are nothing new. Even a book as old as the Bible talks about war and political unrest. We all know that legacies of political violence can lead to long-term changes in social behavior and attitudes, which are attributable – at least in part – to historical episodes of political conflict and contention. These legacies can potentially reshape the subsequent political and social order. What will Trump’s legacy be? Will it be a dictatorship? Will we see a "Trump" dynasty? Could his youngest son, Barron, be the next in line, possibly aiming to become a "Baron" in a new era of American politics?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was one of the key events that led to World War I. Hitler rose to power through the Nazi Party, an organization he forged after returning as a wounded veteran from the annihilating trench warfare of World War I. Paying the crushing reparations destabilized the economy, producing ruinous, runaway inflation. By September 1923, four billion German marks had the equal value of one American dollar.

But what is going on in the US? Why are people so unhappy? The cost of living is high; it’s the same in Europe. Yet, the discontent in the US seems to be driven by deeper, more pervasive issues. The widening political divide, economic instability, and a sense of lost national identity all contribute to a volatile atmosphere. Trump's defiant act, in the face of danger, could be seen as a symbol of resilience by his supporters, but it also raises profound questions about the future of American democracy and its role on the world stage. Even though the face of politics is always changing, and has always changed, this is scary shit.