Another attempt against President Trump’s life foiled

By Alex P. Vidal

“You’re not a baby boomer if you don’t have a visceral recollection of a Kennedy and a King assassination, a Beatles breakup, a U.S. defeat in Vietnam, and a Watergate.”—P. J. O’Rourke

SOME critics of US President Donald Trump initially showed skepticism when a “flash” report broke out April 25 that an armed man tried to assassinate the president at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

Theories circulated on social media that the latest incident was staged or exaggerated to boost flagging approval ratings, which reports suggested were at historic lows for his second term, similar to the 2024 incident.

The doubting Thomases questioned the timing of the event, arguing that “it serves as a distraction from political challenges, including low approval ratings and opposition to his policies.”

The armed man who breached security at the White House correspondents’ dinner attended by President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, among other White House officials, wrote that administration figures were his “targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” according to a note that law enforcement officials attributed to the suspect as reported by The New York Times.

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The roughly 1,000-word note shared by officials reportedly did not mention Mr. Trump by name. But it indicated that the suspect, who was detained after a shooting involving federal agents on April 25 (Saturday) night, bore deep anger at the administration and the president himself. According to the note, the suspect said he could no longer allow a “traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”

The attack revived concerns about whether the Secret Service was sufficiently prepared to protect Mr. Trump, one of the most targeted presidents in history, according to The New York Times.

Security experts asserted that the measures had worked as intended, noting that the suspect never reached the ballroom where Mr. Trump, his wife and many top administration officials were about to dine.

“The system worked,” Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, who attended the dinner, said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “We were safe. President Trump was safe.”

The suspect, identified by law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was taken into custody after the police said he ran through a security checkpoint inside the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. In his writing, the suspect expressed surprise that he was able to check into the hotel with a shotgun, a handgun and a knife.

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With approximately 27 percent of the United States Presidents having experienced assassination attempts, including four who were killed in office, it is considered one of the most dangerous jobs globally.

This persistent danger is reportedly driven by several factors, including the extreme power and visibility of the office, intense political polarization, and the necessity of engaging in public life.

History showed assassination attempts have been a regular occurrence, with 12 presidents facing attempts since 1835.

According to experts, assassination is an inevitable risk associated with the public, powerful nature of the role.

The role is particularly dangerous during times of war, civil unrest, or when national security issues are at the forefront.

The “lifeblood of democracy” requires presidents to engage in public events, rallies, and meet-and-greets, providing opportunities for determined attackers despite security measures.

While elite, the Secret Service has faced scrutiny over complacency, miscommunication, and errors that have left presidents, such as Trump, vulnerable.

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ACCESSORIES MAKE THE WOMAN. A well-dressed woman is someone who knows the fine art of accessorizing. Accessories are the finishing touch that gives us our individuality and shows us just how far we can go with a little imagination.

Women drive and cross the street more safely than men. Men account for 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities since 1980. Between the ages 18 and 45, males outnumber females as fatal crash victims by almost three to one according to the Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

TO ALL LOVERS OF CIGARETTE. Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and nicotine are some of the major components, with lesser amounts of acetone, acetylene, formaldehyde, propane, hydrogine cyanide, toluene, and many others.

STAND UP STRAIGHT. This sounds so ridiculously simple, but it’s one of the most evidential traits of those women we so admire. Stand against a wall with head, shoulder blades, and heels touching, and buttocks pushed into the wall.

Measuring life by what others do to us may disappoint us, but measuring life by what we do for others will add more meaning to our life. Let us enjoy our lunch and dinner!

Interdependence–giving and receiving affection–is the key to happiness. It is the basic human nature or natural law.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)