21-07-2024: The reverberations from the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 continue around the world. Even before a thorough investigation into the event takes place, it is difficult not to conclude that the deep state was involved or at the least complicit in the extraordinary scenes which unfolded. It can scarcely be believed that the US Secret Service simply made mistakes which allowed a bullet to come within an inch of taking Trump’s life. There are multiple reports of people at the Trump election rally witnessing some one “bear crawling” on top of a roof of a building behind the campaign stage with a rifle, and frantically trying to alert the Secret Service, with the Secret Service appearing disinterested.[1] Basic questions such as why the shooter was allowed to get so close (some 140 yards away) without being seen, why security personnel had not covered the building, why authorities did not respond when they were warned about a man with a gun, why the shooter was allowed to unleash at least five rounds before being shot by a Secret Service sniper[2] and more – all point in one direction. The state wanted and needed Trump out of the way, as this was the only way to prevent Trump and the Republicans returning to the White House.
Botched attempt boosts Trump
Also tragically, one person in the crowd died from the shooting from the assassin’s rifle, and two others were critically injured. Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, lost his life shielding his family from the bullets at the rally.[3] The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks,[4] but if true, it is extremely unlikely that this person acted alone. Blackwater founder Erik Prince, who supplies mercenaries to the US state for its interminable wars, stated that any shot within 300 yards is considered easy for someone with moderate rifle training,[5] so it is inconceivable that the Secret Service would not secure an area within 140 yards. The real story of what happened may eventually be revealed, but even those who scoff at “conspiracy theories” would be hard pressed to pass off an explanation of a lone shooter acting without assistance from the state.
Whatever one may think of his politics, Trump showed enormous courage to stand up after being shot, raise his fist in the air and call on his supporters to “fight, fight, fight”. Soon afterwards, Trump vowed on social media to “fight evil”.[6] Within two days of the assassination attempt, Trump named JD Vance as his running mate for Vice President.[7] The assassination attempt, despite everything, has actually boosted Trump’s election campaign, and increased his chances of once again becoming President in November. This is extraordinary given the relentless attempts of the Democrats and the deep state to denounce, demonise and even imprison Trump by fair means or foul.
Violence and the fake left
To be sure, Trump and JD Vance offer no progressive alternatives for working people. It is possible that a Trump/Vance administration would wind down or end military support for NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine against Russia, and this would be a vital step forward if it came about. However, the Trump/Vance Republicans in government would also be likely to ramp up backing for Israel’s war on Palestine and provocations against the People’s Republic of China, amongst other imperialist sponsored regime change operations. Domestically, the Republicans would not prevent the capitalist decline in the US, with ever rising costs of living, costs of housing, crumbling infrastructure and more. Yet Trump is someone who might go against the interests of the US ruling class on one or another issue, so even this is too much. It is not beyond them to organise more political assassinations, given the history of them in the US, from JFK and RFK to Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
However, the overwhelming amount of blame for this situation must be placed squarely on US imperialism itself and the fake left that has been doing its bidding for some 15 years. The Democrats and a host of liberals and so-called “socialist” parties turned towards advocating and even carrying out violence roughly beginning with NATO’s war on Libya in 2011. This fake left went on to back the violence of ISIS in Syria during its Western backed “dirty war” for ten years. Then the faux left assisted the capitalist states of the West impose unprecedented violence against the working class in the form of vaccine mandates and lockdowns in the name of an alleged “pandemic”. Immediately following this, they stumped for NATO with its proxy war in Ukraine and its open arming of Nazi battalions, constantly endangering the world with nuclear war. Then from October 7 last year, the sham left apologised for the terrorist violence of Hamas in Palestine while claiming to oppose Israel’s massacres of civilians in response. And, since 2016, their anti-Trump rhetoric has been full of barely concealed venom.
What has occurred is that the so-called left has served the imperialist forces they claim to oppose. Capitalism is in such an impasse that it has come to rely on liberalism to carry out its program of violence, at home or abroad in endless wars. Trump is someone who may have resisted parts of this program, while not at all being a threat to the system itself. So the failure of the bellicose rhetoric, the attempt to try Trump for “insurrection” on January 6 2021, and the repeated attempts to have Trump convicted on bogus charges could only lead to an assassination attempt, as even the renowned renegade journalist Tucker Carlson predicted.[8] One reason is that liberalism, from the Democrats right down to the fake “socialists”, can no longer play a partially progressive role in the reform of capitalism. This was arguably its role during the 20th Century. Today, capitalism is so decrepit it cannot afford to allow reforms. It is only austerity and war, and the very real threat of a world war on top of all the other problems facing civilisation.
Likewise, the phoney left labelling Trump and his supporters “fascist” is not only wrong but is another precursor to violence. What is required is a genuine left that abhors political violence and works to prevent it. While working people should of course defend themselves and their interests, an authentic left would not be averse to any form of political discourse and discussion. Even a much needed workers revolution against ageing capitalism is a form of self-defence of the only remaining progressive class. A genuine workers’ party would rally the masses against imperialist wars, proxy wars and regime change operations. Real Marxists debate and politically challenge their opponents, so the proletariat can clearly see which system is the real source of violence.
Workers League
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[1] www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jul/13/witness-spotted-man-with-rifle-bear-crawling-on-ro/ (17-07-2024)
[2] www.endoftheamericandream.com/10-burning-questions-that-every-american-should-be-asking-about-the-trump-shooting/ (17-07-2024)
[3] http://www.apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-comperatore-funeral-pennsylvania- (17-07-2024)
[4] www.edition.cnn.com/2024/07/14/us/trump-shooting-thomas-matthew-crooks-intl-hnk/index.html (17-07-2024)
[5] www.mindseyemag.com/magazine/malice-or-massive-incompetence-erik-prince-gives-detailed-assessment-of-secret-service-failure/ (17-07-2024)
[6] www.rt.com/news/601048-trump-fight-evil-assassination-attempt/ (17-07-2024)
[7] ww.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/15/who-is-jd-vance-what-to-know-about-trump-possible-vice-running-mate/74364451007/ (17-07-2024)
[8] www.news.yahoo.com/news/years-trump-aides-feared-inevitable-021712419.html (17-07-2024)
Image: Trump raises his fist after being shot in an assassination attempt on July 13 in Pennsylvania. http://www.latimes.com
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