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.

Meh, not really. He is a true narcissist, he probably believes it when he says God saved him. He thinks he’s untouchable.

Absolutely. His reaction and the photo ops from it might have just won him the election.

That one photograph will forever remain iconic. A better poster could not have been designed.

From a PR perspective it’s brilliant.

P.S I don’t like him.

I disagree. He intuitively saw this as a self promotion opportunity and played it perfectly.

I honestly thought a man whose lived such a life of luxury and privilege would have become a cowering wreck when faced with such a terrifying momemt. But he didn’t. He absolutely kept in (his) character and played it. I’ve seen successful and confident people completely lose their composure and be lost and bewildered in much less stressful but unexpected events. He didn’t do that. Credit where it’s due.

No. Are you getting a bit confused yourself there loveen?

Exactly this. While he was doing g is showmanship crap he was putting everyone trying to get him.off that stage at further risk. At that point nobody knew if there was more than one gunman. His training was ignored. He should have been head down in the middle of the security team moving as fast as possible to the car not popping his head up fist pumping.

I agree. You can imagine many other people (me included) being so shit scared they would crawl on their hands and knees in a panic towards the exit.

Once he'd collected himself and stood up to have the presence of mind and courage to raise a fist in defiance - turning to the crowd 'through' the wall of secret service around him - is amazingly brave and shows a lot of leadership mind set. Very few people I think would be able to do that and at that speed.

I don't like his policies but I totally respect him for that. It's amazing actually and I wouldn't describe my respect as grudging at all.

That aspect of his character - fearless and brave under pressure and showing leadership not to be cowed and to show the people that he was not to be suppressed by fear - is what we all need in our leaders.

How do you think Liz Truss or Joe Biden or Rishi Sunak would react in that situation?

Compare that to how you think Princess Anne or Margaret Thatcher would have reacted.

Whatever you think of them as people or politicians, its a certain type of bravery of character that isn't common.

There could have been multiple shooters. Just as he was getting in the car, popping his head up could have cost security personnel their lives. The woman in front of him looked in her 20's, he didn't have the right to put them at further risk. How do you think 'fight,fight,fight' is going to be interpreted? They'll be turning up with guns at the rallies, given they are always holding beers, let's see how this goes. Biden is being blamed across SM because he said that Trump should be put in a bullseye and there are calls for revenge.

You're worryingly easily impressed.

Most people would have crawled off the stage if there was even gun shots fired - myself included. And so would have all his haters. He was actually shot.

He was absolutely brave for standing up and raising a fist and with a large dose of stupidity as a second shot might have nailed him.

I don’t understand how he was able to stand up as I would have expected his protection to have completely covered him.

This.

His security put their own lives on the line surrounding him. By popping his head up he's inviting another attempt at a shot if available and putting their lives and those watching around him at risk.

And I'd say that about anyone who did the same - including Obama.

Fighting is his key value.

Great for a soldier, terrible for a President.

No doubt this will have done his campaign the world of good, and I'm glad he wasn't hurt more badly, but no, I see nothing to admire in Trump.

no, people don't become a cowering wreck in such circumstance, at all - they become adrenaline fuelled superheroes.

The cowering and wreckage comes later when the adrenaline has worn off

I think he is just slow to respond. He probably thought well 'I brought it on myself'🤷‍♂️

I dont think it was admirable tbh, more shows how stupid and selfish he is. He had no way or knowing how many shooters there were or whether there be another round of fire, the longer he spent in full view the more he put himself - and that's fair enough, it's his own choice how much danger to put himself in - but also his Secret Service members and members of the audience in danger imo. All for the glory of being the big macho man waving his fist in the air...... But yes it will help him in the election

he got shot at. He lost his head totally (metaphorically) and could have lost his head literally, the way he was behaving - total idiot. When snipers are targeting you, you keep your head down, not stick it out of the security men trying to cover you up.

He should have had training to control his instincts better in a situation like this

This - he behaved like a total moron

incidentally, it was a supporter that shot him, according to the BBC - a republican

Bravery. Right. He just didn't know what was happening for a minute or two, then the lads surrounded him to protect him. Then, he was so arrogant that he insisted on endangering their lives so he could wave etc instead of getting the fuck out of there as quick as was humanly possible. He is an absolute amadán, with no redeeming features whatsoever.

Well let's see you get shot in the head then and see how you react

That photo is amazing. Like him or loathe him, it's going to be the zeitgeist for this election and likely Trump's next presidency.

The true measure of his courage will be if he goes back to doing these kind of rallies or not.

Agree, @DanielGault, though your descriptors are kinder than mine.

Well luckily, millions disagree with you