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A defiant Trump equals a defiant base

A defiant former President Donald Trump will attend the full Republican National Convention, just days after he survived an assassination attempt. VOA’s Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and tells us how his supporters, after Saturday’s shock, are now energized.
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Trump rally shooting becomes hot topic on China’s social media

Taipei, Taiwan — The shooting at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday quickly became a trending topic on China’s social media platforms Sunday.

The Chinese foreign ministry released a statement on its website Sunday, indicating that the country is closely following the incident involving Trump.

“President Xi Jinping has expressed sympathies to former President Trump,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in its statement.

The FBI said Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was the suspect in the attempted assassination of Trump.

As of noon, Beijing time Sunday, the Weibo entry “Trump was shot” had garnered more than 300 million views, making it the top trending topic on the platform. Weibo, a Chinese social media platform similar to X, formerly Twitter, mirrors trends seen on international platforms like X, which is banned in China.

Not only did the entry “Trump was shot” dominate Weibo’s trending topics, but at one point, half of the top 20 searches were related to the shooting. Updates such as “Trump’s right ear was shot through by a bullet,” “One person died at the scene,” and “The shooting suspect was killed,” along with U.S. President Joe Biden’s responses, also garnered significant attention.

Fast reaction came also from Chinese businesses: By noon Sunday in Beijing, shopping websites like Taobao and Pinduoduo listed T-shirts featuring images of Trump raising his arms after being injured. Some internet commenters jokingly remarked, “This is the speed of Chinese e-commerce.”

Major state media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency and CCTV, extensively covered the shooting.

Many Chinese experts interviewed said they believed that the assassination attempt was genuine and speculated that it could positively influence Trump’s campaign.

Chinese social media was also rife with speculation that the shooting was “self-directed and self-staged.”

Notably, Jin Hao, former executive editor of Xinhua News Agency’s “World Military,” commented on Weibo, saying that, after looking at the clips from the scene and observing Trump’s “remarkably swift” reaction, “he [knew he] was shot as soon as he touched his ears and immediately crouched down.” Jin remarked, “This isn’t something that ordinary people can react to.”

Some Weibo users also echoed that “it has been practiced hundreds of times.”

However, this conspiracy theory faced criticism from many bloggers, and others who argued that Trump’s ear injury was just a few centimeters away from the brain.

Even Jin Canrong, a professor at the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, known for his strong anti-American stance, bluntly stated in an interview with the Shanghai-based media Observer Net that this incident was “an assassination.”

Jin noted that in the photos from the scene, the injured Trump raised his hands in a fighting gesture, surrounded by Secret Service agents and the American flag, effectively creating a heroic image for himself.

Currently based in California, Albert Chiu, a political science professor at Taiwan’s Tunghai University, said in an interview with VOA that Trump was shot during a live broadcast, and the shooter was killed on the scene, making it hard for any “conspiracy theory” to take hold. He emphasized that the ongoing culture of political assassination in the United States warrants more attention.

According to He Yue, a member of the National Union of Journalists in the United Kingdom, the enthusiasm of Chinese netizens for discussing the shooting reflects daily restrictions on free speech, where “domestic politics is off-limits.” They can only engage openly when negative topics related to American democracy arise, He Yue said.

Because “Chinese netizens really cannot discuss Chinese politics, when it comes to other countries’ political events, like the shooting, it feels like they’ve found an outlet to vent,” he told VOA. “The most heated discussions revolve around whether this is a ploy and who orchestrated it. Chinese people have lived in a world of falsehoods for too long; everything feels fake, so they use this mindset to judge foreigners.”

Taiwan’s reaction

On Sunday, Chen Shui-bian, former Taiwanese president who was shot while campaigning for reelection two decades ago, pointed out in interviews with several Taiwanese media outlets that the locations of both shootings — his in Tainan, in southern Taiwan, and Trump’s in Butler, Pennsylvania — can be seen as “sacred places of democracy” for both countries. Each attack resulted in minor injuries to presidential candidates, which he characterized as “a striking coincidence.”

One day before the 2004 Taiwan presidential election, the “319 shooting incident” occurred. President Chen was shot while campaigning in a jeep in Tainan. The bullet only caused a minor abdominal injury after penetrating his clothing.

The Presidential Office of Taiwan stated Sunday, “President (Lai Ching-te) extends sincere concerns to former President Trump and prays for his speedy recovery.” Lai strongly condemned any form of political violence and expressed his deepest condolences to all victims.

Eric Chu, chairman of the China-friendly opposition Kuomintang party, also stated in an interview that he promptly expressed condolences to the U.S. side, hoping for former President Trump’s swift recovery, and emphasizing the party’s condemnation of political violence.
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Biden, in somber Oval Office address, calls for unity, peace after Trump shooting

President Joe Biden on Sunday summoned the gravitas of the Oval Office to entreat Americans to unify and shun political violence after a stunning attempt on the life of rival Donald Trump a day earlier. Trump, en route to the political convention where he is expected to clinch the Republican presidential nomination, made similar calls – in a sign both men fear trouble ahead as the November election looms. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from the White House.
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Security in focus as Republicans open nominating convention following Trump shooting

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FBI identifies suspect in Trump assassination attempt; motive unknown

The FBI has named a suspect in what it called an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s campaign says Trump is “fine” after the shooting. An investigation into the incident is underway. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi has more.
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Biden condemns political violence, calls for unity after Trump assassination attempt

White House — President Joe Biden on Sunday condemned political violence and called for national unity after an assassination attempt on his rival and presidential challenger, former President Donald Trump.

Biden also urged Americans to not jump to conclusions as law enforcement investigates the Saturday shooting at a rally in the swing state of Pennsylvania. 

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence – or any violence for that matter,” Biden said, flanked by his vice president and attorney general. “An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for, as a nation, everything. It’s not who we are as a nation, it’s not American, and we cannot allow this to happen. 

“Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is (more) important than that right now: unity. We’ll debate and will disagree – that’s not going to change. But we’re going to not lose sight of the fact of who we are as Americans,” the president said.

He added that Trump is “doing well and recovering” and that he had taken steps to direct the Secret Service to provide Trump with “every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety.” 

Biden said that he instructed the elite law enforcement agency to review all security measures – “all security measures,” he repeated for emphasis – as Republicans, including Trump, prepare to arrive Monday in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. There, Trump is expected to be officially named as the party’s presidential nominee.

President Biden added that although the shooter has been identified, Americans should not rush to form conclusions until the investigation is complete.

“I urge everyone – everyone – please don’t make assumptions about his motive or his affiliations,” Biden said. 

And finally, he said he would address the nation late Sunday from the Oval Office – widely seen as the most sober and consequential venue for presidential addresses. 

Biden had abruptly returned to Washington early Sunday to receive briefings on the event and its aftermath. He and Vice President Kamala Harris spent much of the morning in the White House Situation Room with homeland security and law enforcement officials, according to a White House photo.

Also Sunday, the White House announced that Biden would not travel Monday to Texas, as planned, for a campaign event. The campaign had said Saturday that they were working to temporarily suspend campaign messaging and take down ads. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into what they are describing as an assassination attempt. Trump was wounded in the ear Saturday evening at a rally in Pennsylvania after a gunman aimed at him. His campaign said he was “fine” and he appeared later that evening, walking off his plane in New Jersey. 

An attendee at the rally was killed, as was the gunman, and two other attendees were wounded, law enforcement said. 

On Sunday, former first lady Melania Trump issued a plea for Americans to “ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.”

Also Sunday, Devin Nunes, a Republican former congressman who is the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., called for a thorough investigation.

“The situation demands a fast, thorough federal investigation to determine all the circumstances of this cowardly attack and to identify if any additional persons were involved. I also call for the federal government to provide any security resources requested by President Trump to guarantee his safety. America will overcome this despicable shooting and together, our nation will endure.”
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Fears of unrest in convention host Milwaukee after Trump assassination attempt

The U.S. Republican Party is expected to formally nominate Donald Trump for president this week, days after he survived an assassination attempt at a political rally. Already tight security is expected to be heightened in Milwaukee, which is hosting the Republican National Convention. VOA’s Jorge Agobian and William Gallo spoke with convention delegates and Milwaukee residents, who are concerned about the possibility of more unrest.
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Trump shooting sparks fears ahead of Republican convention

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US lawmakers react with bipartisan horror to Trump shooting

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Former US President Trump rushed from rally stage following apparent shots fired

Gunshots appear to have been fired while former U.S. President Donald Trump was on stage at a campaign rally in the state of Pennsylvania Saturday. VOA’s Chief National Correspondent Steve Herman reports from Washington.
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In swing-state Pennsylvania, Latino-majority city embraces chance to sway 2024 election

READING, PA — Religion and politics frequently overlap in Reading, an old industrial city in one of the most pivotal swing states of this year’s presidential election.

In Pennsylvania, there is early precedent for this kind of thing. The state began as a haven for Quakers and other European religious minorities fleeing persecution. That includes the parents of Daniel Boone, the national folk hero born just miles from Reading, a town where the Latino population is now the majority.

Today, the Catholic mayor is also a migrant — and the first Latino to hold the office in Reading’s 276-year history. Mayor Eddie Moran is keenly aware of the pivotal role Pennsylvania could play in the high-stakes race, when a few thousand votes in communities like his could decide the future of the United States.

“Right now, with the growing Latino population and the influx of Latinos moving into cities such as Reading, it’s definitely an opportunity for the Latino vote to change the outcome of an election,” Moran says. “It’s not a secret anymore.”

A community of spirituality — and Latinos

In Reading, the sky is dotted with crosses atop church steeples, one after the other. Catholic church pews fill up on Sundays and many stand for the services. Elsewhere, often in nondescript buildings, evangelical and Pentecostal congregations gather to sing, pray and sometimes speak in tongues.

Outside, salsa, merengue and reggaeton music (often sung in Spanglish) blast from cars and houses along city streets first mapped out by William Penn’s sons — and that now serve a thriving downtown packed with restaurants proudly owned by Latinos.

This is a place where, when the mayor is told that his town is 65% Latino, he takes pride in saying: “It’s more like 70%.”

They believe in their political sway. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2022 found that eight in 10 Latino registered voters say their vote can affect the country’s direction at least “some.”

On a recent Sunday, Luis Hernandez, 65, born in Puerto Rico, knelt to pray near the altar at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Later, walking out after Mass, Hernandez said he’ll vote for Trump — even on the very day of the former president’s criminal convictions related to hush money for a porn star.

“Biden is old,” Hernandez says, and then reflects on how Trump is only a few years younger. “Yes, but you look at Trump and you see the difference. … Biden’s a good man. He’s decent. But he’s too old.”

In the weeks after he spoke, many more Americans would join in calls for Biden to withdraw from the race after his debate debacle, which crystallized growing concerns that, at 81, he’s too old.

Immigration is a key topic

It’s not just about Biden’s age or debate performance. It’s also, Hernandez says, about the border crisis. He says too many immigrants are arriving in the United States, including some he considers criminals. And, he adds, so much has changed since his Dominican-born father arrived in the 1960s — when, he says, it was easier to enter and stay in America.

For some, there are other issues as well.

“It’s the economy, immigration and abortion,” says German Vega, 41, a Dominican American who became a U.S. citizen in 2015. Vega, who describes himself as “pro-life,” voted for Trump in 2020 and plans to do so again in November.

“Biden doesn’t know what he’s saying. He doesn’t know what he’s doing, and we have a country divided,” Vega says. Trump is “a person of character. … He looks confident. He never gives up; he’s always fighting for what he believes.”

Of course, there are some here who just don’t favor taking sides — except if it’s for Jesus. Listen to Pastor Alex Lopez, a Puerto Rican who cuts hair in a barber shop on the first floor of his home on Saturdays, and preaches on the second floor on Sundays.

“We’re neutral,” he says. “We just believe in God.”

A city with deep industrial roots resurges

Reading was once synonymous with iron and steel. Those industries cemented the creation of the Reading Railroad (an early stop on the Monopoly gameboard) that helped fuel the Industrial Revolution and became, in the late 19th century, one of the country’s major corporations.

Today, the city of about 95,000 people, 65 miles northwest of Philadelphia, has a fast-increasing population. However, it is one of the state’s poorest cities, with a median household income of about $44,000, compared to about $72,000 in Pennsylvania.

Reading is 67% Latino, according to U.S. Census figures, and home to high concentrations of people of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage — as well as Colombians and Mexicans, who own restaurants and other businesses around town.

Political candidates are taking notice of Reading’s political and economic power. The 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania was decided by about 82,000 votes, and — according to the Pew Research Center — there are more than 600,000 eligible Latino voters in the state.

It’s true that Reading still leans mostly Democratic — Biden crushed Trump in the city by a margin of about 46 percentage points in 2020. However in that election, voting-age turnout in the city (about 35%) was significantly lower than the rest of the state (about 67%).

But the Trump campaign doesn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to turn it around. It recently teamed up with the Republican National Committee and Pennsylvania GOP to open a “Latino Americans for Trump” office in a red-brick building near the Democratic mayor’s downtown office.

Moran has made a plea to Biden and other Democrats to take notice and visit Reading before the election. It’s crucial, he says.

“I think that it’s still predominantly Democratic,” he says. “But the candidates need to come out and really explain that to the community.”

One development, Moran says, is that religious leaders are now less hesitant to get involved in politics.

“Things change, even for churches,” he says. Clergy “realize the importance that they hold as faith-based leaders and religious leaders and they’re making a call of action through their congregations.”

The message: Get out and vote

A few blocks from St. Peter’s, a crowd gathers inside First Baptist Church, which dates to the late 19th century.

In a sign of Reading’s changing demographics, the aging and shrinking congregation of white Protestants donated the building to Iglesia Jesucristo es el Rey (Church Jesus Christ is the King), a thriving Latino congregation of some 100 worshippers who have shared the building with First Baptist for nearly a decade.

Pastors Carol Pagan and her husband Jose, both from Puerto Rico, recently led prayer. At the end of the service, microphone in hand, the pastors encourage parishioners to vote in the election — irrespective of who they choose as the president.

“The right to vote is,” Carol Pagan says before her husband chimes in: “a civic responsibility.”

After the service, the congregation descends to the basement, where they share a traditional meal of chicken with rice and beans.

“I believe the principle of human rights have to do with both parties — or any party running,” Carol Pagan says. “I always think of the elderly, of the health system, of health insurance, and how it shouldn’t be so much about capitalism but more rights for all of us to be well.”

Both of the Pagans make clear that they won’t vote for Trump. They’re waiting, like others, for circumstances that might lead Biden to withdraw, so they can support another Democratic candidate.

“It’s our duty to shield that person with prayer — it doesn’t matter if that person is a Democrat or a Republican,” Carol Pagan says. “We owe them that.”
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Biden digs in on candidacy in battleground state amid age doubts

Detroit — “I promise you,” said U.S. President Joe Biden, as he stood before a small crowd of supporters crammed into a Detroit diner – including a 4-year-old boy with a halo of blond hair, named Beau like the president’s beloved late son – “I am OK.”

Young Beau gazed up at the 81-year-old president from his mother’s lap and giggled as Biden spoke in an automotive-themed diner in Detroit’s wealthy western suburbs.

Biden joked about his age – “I’m only 41” – he said, to laughs – but the tone of Friday’s campaign swing through the battleground state of Michigan was serious just weeks after a disastrous debate performance raised concerns over his fitness for reelection.

“I am running, and we are going to win!” he said to cheers, hours later, at a packed high school gym in central Detroit.

Biden also used the rally before 2,000 ramped-up supporters to lay out a series of campaign promises, including enshrining abortion in law, increasing voter access, expanding entitlement programs, banning assault weapons, curbing housing costs and more – all, he said, by “making the wealthy pay their fair share,” which he defined as a 25% minimum tax on billionaires.

He also threw unprecedented amounts of shade – both serious and spurious – at his 78-year-old Republican opponent, joking: “Trump doesn’t get out of his golf cart.”

But also: “It’s time for us to stop treating politics like entertainment and reality TV,” he said. “Another four years of Donald Trump is deadly serious.”

Those firm words come up against growing concerns about his prospects – not from his detractors, but from within the Democratic Party. On Friday, en route to Michigan, campaign officials pushed back and brushed aside the worries.

“He is laser-focused on demonstrating that he is the best possible person to take on Donald Trump in November,” said Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler, speaking to reporters on Air Force 1.

And in Washington, Biden’s allies are on the attack in his defense.

“Joe Biden is focused on the future of this country,” South Carolina Representative James Clyburn told NBC News’ Today Show. Clyburn is a staunch supporter credited with helping deliver the Black vote to Biden in 2020. “And I always say the best predictor of future performance is past behavior.”

But not all Democrats agree. On Thursday night, Biden took nearly an hour of questions from reporters, on everything from his health to the future of NATO and his strategy for countering an emboldened China. But a new campaign, called “Pass the Torch,” on Friday released a scorching review of his performance, during which he accidentally referred to his vice president as “Vice President Trump.” Her name is Kamala Harris.

“Great job, Joe!” Trump posted on his social media platform.

“We cannot be holding our breath during every campaign speech and appearance,” said Aaron Regunberg of Pass the Torch. “We need a candidate who is able to campaign vigorously against Donald Trump.”

On Thursday, Biden also drew gasps by calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by his nemesis’ name, introducing him at the NATO summit as “President Putin,” for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He quickly corrected the mistake, but it was pounced upon by his political opponents – and his allies.

“This is a gaffe – by itself it’s not a massive deal,” Regunberg said in a statement. “But it’s concerning that the president can’t seem to get through a single event without making a mistake that could provide grist to the Trump attack machine.”

Washington state Democratic Senator Patty Murray agreed, saying: “We need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job.”

And academics say Biden’s main enemy here is simple math.

“I’m not sure how he’s going to overcome the ‘too old’ aspect because all of us have calendars and can count,” said Shannon O’Brien, an associate professor of instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. “However, just because you’re old doesn’t mean you’re not vital. And just because you’re old doesn’t mean you’re impaired. And I think he needs to show that he’s vigorous and that he is mentally adept and that he understands the issues.”

On Friday, a confident Biden, energized by the packed crowd of supporters – some of whom began singing the national anthem while waiting for him to appear, led by a soaring alto somewhere deep in the crowd – zeroed in on what he sees as the real weak link in this election.

“I know I look 40 years old,” Biden said. “I know I’m a little bit old. Hopefully with age comes a little bit of wisdom. And here’s what I know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. … And I know Americans want a president, not a dictator.” 
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Can the 25th amendment be used to replace Biden?

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