A sniper attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally at Butler, Pennsylvania. As Trump addressed the crowd, the shooter opened fire. A stray bullet killed an attendee behind Trump. Trump himself was struck in the ear. At least two more spectators were reportedly injured. The shooter was neutralized shortly after.
With these shots, the world has changed forever.
This is a developing situation. In times like this, honour the 72-hour rule. Do not speculate until at least 72 hours after the event, after the dust has settled and investigations begin. Stick with what is known and verified, or at least verifiable.
We cannot trust the news to be objective. Since 2016, they have pushed the hard left agenda. We must rely on open source intelligence, eyewitness reports, and information that can be verified.
Here's what we think we know so far:
The sniper opened fire at about 6.11pm local time.
(photo by Doug Milis)
One bullet was photographed in flight. In the moment before the shot, Trump turned his head. This act may have saved his life.
The following video covers the shots and the immediate aftermath:
You can hear two different rifles firing in the clip. The first is the shooter's, the second is from the counter-sniper who neutralized him.
The shots were fired from the roof of a building near the rally.
There is conflicting reports over exactly how far away the shot was taken. The longest range estimates I've seen is between 450 - 600 feet.
These measurements, of course, are a rough estimate at best. These images don't show exactly where Trump was standing, or where the shooter was found.
Other Twitter users are attempting to narrow down the range through gunshot acoustical analysis. They think they can narrow down the range even further. I am going to hold off on sharing those for now.
As of time of writing, it is unknown what type of rifle the shooter used, or what kind of ammunition it was loaded with. Without this information, it is hard to analyse the shot. Half of the Internet sources I've seen says the shooter used a low-powered rifle, possibly an air rifle or a .22; the other half insists that the rifle fired supersonic rounds. Until this information is verified, we should not speculate on this.
Executive protection protocols call for creating multiple layers of security around a protectee, especially for important public figures like Trump. This includes closing down and controlling access to every building, window, rooftop and vantage point with line of sight to and within rifle range of the protectee.
This did not happen.
In this interview with the BBC, an eyewitness claims he spotted the shooter as he crawled into position. He tried to alert the police and the Secret Service, but they didn't react until after the shooter fired.
For the past half-decade, the USSS has been rocked by scandals one after another: deletions of text messages relating to the January 6 incident, sex scandals, multiple breaches of the White House during Trump's term. This suggests an overall crisis of competency.
The Democrats have tried to strip Trump and Robert Kennedy of their respective Secret Service details. For example, in April, they attempted to pass a bill that seeks to remove Secret Service protection from convicted felons—in other words, Trump.
Since 2016, Democrats, progressives, antifa and journalists have ramped up inflammatory rhetoric against Trump. They have compared him to Adolf Hitler, calling him a fascist, Nazi, dictator, tyrant, and so on. Left-wing political figures tacitly approve of violence to achieve their goals, most notably the George Floyd riots, while simultaneously accusing right-wingers of the very same violence they embrace. Influencers and activists have openly called for people to 'punch a fascist', 'kill a Nazi', and worse.
What can we make of this?
The shooting represented a massive failure on the part of Trump's protection detail. By failing to secure the perimeter and failing to respond to an eyewitness report, they have, at best, demonstrated astounding incompetency.
There is, as yet, no hard evidence of a wider conspiracy.
Everything else is speculation.
What does this mean for us?
The shots were aimed at Trump. But the target was the fabric of America, and with it, Western civilization.
Political violence undermines civilisation. Over the past 9 years, we've seen the normalisation of political violence and incendiary rhetoric against the right, and by extension, everyone who opposes the radical left. The fault lines are growing in every society. It is the most visible in America, but everywhere in the West where similar events take place is at risk.
We are at an inflection point. The sane move would be for everyone across the political spectrum to take a deep breath and a collective step back. To tone down the rhetoric, to refrain from violence, to stop taking things past the point of no return.
But Western politics today are driven by the insane and those who enable them.
Recognise that you are now living in interesting times. They may last through the days of your children and grandchildren. The peace, safety and stability of the past is no longer a certainty—but could very well become a mere memory.
If you live in America, you must prepare for the worst. Stockpile essential supplies. Forge strong relationships with like-minded individuals. Have a plan for when violence sweeps through your area. You can no longer count on the benevolence—or even the competence—of the federal authorities. Your plans must be focused on what you and yours are capable of. You cannot plan for Big Government to save you. You must become your own saviours.
The same applies for everywhere else in the world facing political instability. Anything that happens in America will send shockwaves across the world. You must be prepared for the worst. There is no downside to preparation, only lack of it.
If you do not live in the West, but you do have exposure to at-risk places and economies, this is the time to adjust your risk exposure. You can no longer delay. Get your friends, family and yourself off the firing line. Adjust your portfolios, currency holdings, and assets accordingly.
The worst case scenario is civil war in America in end-2024. Take the time to think about it now, and plan for it. Do not make things worse, do not contribute to the growing madness, but do make sure you are prepared for what might come.
Is this overblown? Maybe. I, for one, pray that there won't be a civil war. But hopes and prayers can only take a man so far. By preparing for major emergencies, we are also preparing for lesser, related emergencies. And we cannot deny the increasing political violence and superheated rhetoric in America.
Rhetoric like this:
We're done talking about the debate. It's time to put Trump in the bullseye.
President Joe Biden
We are living in interesting times.
Act accordingly.
