How could the latest assassination attempt on Trump affect the US election campaign?

Former US President Donald Trump is insured, according to his campaign officials.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, confirmed that Trump - the Republican Party candidate for president - was apparently the target of an "assassination attempt" on his golf course in Florida on September 15.

The incident came just two months after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

He will face Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris, currently the vice president, in the November 5 presidential election.

Growing sympathy for Trump?

The news for Trump has not been good lately, especially since his recent debate with Harris.

Trump's unsubstantiated comments that Haitian migrants eat animals in an Ohio town quickly turned into ridicule.

However, the latest possible assassination attempt could turn things in his favor.

Trump's campaign may try to refocus the debate on issues related to law and order and threats of political violence — perhaps even trying to blame opponents for responsibility in fomenting hostilities, at least indirectly.

After the first assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania, there have been calls from members of the Republican Party for Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting political leaders in the US, to resign. She then resigned.

In the latest incident, it appears that the Secret Service acted quickly, apprehending the suspect, but the level of protection afforded to presidential candidates may be questioned.

Fox News — largely sympathetic to Trump and the Republican Party — focused not on the failure of the attempt, but on the fact that the suspected gunman was able to point his assault rifle through a fence before Secret Service agents opened fire.

It is possible that the incident will cause Trump to cut back on his public political appearances and focus more on digital campaigning.

The United States is already deeply polarized politically, and this incident is only likely to make the situation worse.

After the September 15 incident, President Joe Biden and Harris condemned what they both described as "political violence."

However, Trump's supporters will see him as a victim of political violence, while opponents may see the incident as evidence of the divisiveness Trump is causing.

Ukraine's return to the spotlight

The alleged shooter has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii.

He had a criminal history dating back to the 1990s.

On social media, he was critical of Trump, even though he said he supported him in 2016.

According to social media posts, Routh also appeared to have pro-Ukrainian views.

He traveled abroad in 2022, apparently with the intention of fighting with Ukraine against Russia.

But a representative from the Ukrainian Foreign Legion told CNN that "he was never part of the legion" and that he "did not cooperate with us in any way."

Routh called on others to take up arms for Ukraine and was interviewed by several news organizations, including The New York Times and Semafor, in 2023. /rel