To have grudging respect for how Trump styled it out

[Ladyslip]

I mean someone tried to murder him, he came very close to having died. He went through a terrifying experience and came out saying fight and raising his fist in defiance. I think he’s an odious man but despite that, I have to concede a nod to that.

Let’s face it, if this had happened to Obama and he’d responded in the same way we’d all be like ‘woah, he the man!’

Note. This is not a genuine AIBU. I’m confident in my position on this but know so many people have so polarized themselves that they would rather eat their own eyeballs than find any small compliment or recognition for someone they hate.

Oh OK. I thought maybe you hadn't seen the footage as you thought he'd waved and said you hadn't paid much attention to it.

But yes, I agree the crowd, although obviously distressed, was admirably calm. There could've been a disaster caused by people rushing and trampling to leave, and they didn't do that.

I also thought that the A&E doctor who left his seat despite being told to get down, and rushed to administer first aid to Corey Comperatore, was an unbelivably brave dude. He had no way of knowing if there was a second shooter at that point but he ran to adminster aid anyway.

But yes, I agree the crowd, although obviously distressed, was admirably calm. There could've been a disaster caused by people rushing and trampling to leave, and they didn't do that.

Good point, I hadn’t considered that.

When I said wave I was referring to the punching. I didn't see a massive difference tbh. Yy re that doctor.

I thought this too (also NOT a fan of Trump).

Do you remember that film with Christopher Walken, The Dead Zone? In it, the career of an aspiring politician is ruined as during an assassination attempt he grabs a small child to use as a human shield.

Trump could have quite understandably shit his pants and cried for his Mummy, I might have done too!

Is that you, Donald??
Well done for being brave about your owie.

No. I have no respect for him whatsoever.
The only brave ones there were the security that put themselves at risk getting him to safety.

He will milk this for all it's worth to win the election now.
Then see how much you respect him when he's putting the whole world at risk, not just America, with his idiocy.

Personally no. He didn't know what was happening and had an adrenaline response that could have been interpreted by the crowd any number of ways. Firstly, he stayed on stage to address the crowd which put his security in direct harms way since they were literal human shields at that point. He should have done what they asked him to and moved off quickly when they asked him to rather than exposing them for longer than necessary.

Plus saying "fight" fight who? You've an arena potentially full of people with concealed guns. Look at how things played out the last time he suggested people "fight". That was reckless in my eyes. There is now talk of some militia groups "fighting" by saying they'll create an armed presence at polling stations in certain areas. To impress me he could have got his security out of the road, reduced the risk to the crowd getting away from them and then coming back later to talk about the importance of gun control...

But as I say it was an adrenaline response so an aggressive response is just as possible as a flight or freeze response.

Oh OK, gotcha. There's a big difference between a wave and a fistpump tbh. The latter is a typically gesture of victory or defiance, the former is an attempt to get someone's attention or, in controlled socialised situations, it just means 'bye' or 'hi' or 'I see and acknowledge you'.

The wave is typically done with the open hand palm outwards (or palm inwards in some cultures though this is less common and less 'friendly'), the fistpump with a closed fist which is of course a human beings primary weapon of attack and last line of defense.

If in doubt, next time your most difficult relative departs after a long, tedious visit, try fistpumping them at the door rather than waving them off - you might get a very strange response lol!

I know what they are, I just didn't notice the difference when watching the footage. All I saw was a narcissist looking for attention using a hand motion and displaying complete and utter disregard for the safety of the people around him.

Omg this really made me laugh!

And the panic if their kids have to go on the train/to the shop/on a bus/a toilet alone.

But no - if they were shot at they would be calm and follow instructions. The most dangerous thing most of these posters have done is cross at a crossing without the green light flashing!!

I loathe the man, but he was a cool as cucumber and has probably won the next election with this picture.

It is an extraordinary picture in it's composition and clarity. Someone had a steady hand to take this.

I found this article (an interview with the photographer who took it). It’s an interesting read:

www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/15/trump-rally-shooting-photographer-evan-vucci-story

Thanks for this what an interesting man. War photographer and Pulitzer prize winner.

OK gotcha. You're coming at it from a place of political opinions and I'm coming at it as a fight-flight nerd. All good though, it's been nice to discuss it with you!

He was FEARLESS. He ran across the stage before he knew the shooter was down so he could capture the shot he wanted. That is some serious professional balls. That shot's going to be Zapruder- or Rosenthal-level historic.

I hope the photographer is currently halfway down his third bottle of champagne because god he deserves it!

The photographer has an Instagram account. He follows Biden around too.

Yes! Although he was pretty brave in arranging with the shooter that he would turn his head at exactly the right nano second, so that the bullet would only graze his ear.
A nano second later or earlier and he would be dead, still at least he knew that all the Special Forces and local police were in on it too.

They said the same about President Kennedy and John Lennon too but unfortunately they didn't have exact nano second timing but then Trump had advantage of all the new technology to help him.

You numbty!

I haven’t been able to access the article yet but he certainly got the shot.

Incredible

Great post. Honestly, these conspiracy theory idiots are desperate. Love him or hate him, Trump turned a potentially fatal attempt on his life into a triumph.

There's an interview with him in the times today which is well worth a read

He put his security detail in danger, surely

Yes, by existing we know. 🤣

I actually think Trump's reaction WAS instinctive. His whole persona is based on aggression and hate, so his reaction to danger sent him into his default setting of aggression and hate- his face when chanting Fight, Fight Fight was chilling in its ferocity

Or survival instincts. Hardly a moment to sing we are the world but yeah nice to try to further vilify a victim of an assassination attempt. Pretty sure you sing kumbaya my lord after almost being killed and bleeding and shocked.

I frankly couldn't give a fig about Trump's trauma.
I have a certain amount of sympathy for the misguided person who was suckered into being in his crowd, and died for it. But Trump? Nah. He is a vile person and is reaping what he sowed. He showed NO sympathy for Nancy Pelosi's husband suffering much worse trauma than an ear boo-boo