How the assassination attempt could affect the race for The White House

And how much did divisive and extreme rhetoric contribute to Saturday’s shooting?

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Donald Trump was injured in the shooting in Pennsylvania (AP)
Donald Trump was injured in the shooting in Pennsylvania (AP)

On Saturday evening, in the small American town of Butlers in Pennsylvania, former president Donald Trump narrowly escaped death after a bullet grazed his head during a rally speech.

The horrifying assassination attempt, which Trump escaped with only superficial issues, sent shock waves across an already deeply divided United States. One Trump supporter lost his life in the attack, and several others were injured.

What do we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who tried to shoot the former president?

How will Saturday’s shooting impact the November presidential election and could it bolster support for the Trump campaign?

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And how much did the divisive and extreme rhetoric on both sides of the political divide contribute to Saturday’s shooting?

Today, on In The News, could the bullet that grazed the head of Donald Trump fire him back to the White House?

Irish Times Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan discusses the assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast