In a country already on edge, the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has enraged his supporters, paused the Democratic campaign and raised fears of further political violence in the run-up to November’s presidential election.
Trump’s Republican allies painted him as a hero on Saturday, seizing on the image of him with his ear bloodied and fist raised, appearing to mouth the words “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Whereas Trump has regularly used violent language with his followers, advisers and allies of the former president flipped the script on his Democratic opponent, President Joe Biden, saying it was the demonization of the Republican presidential candidate that led to the assassination attempt.