Kentucky political experts discuss 2nd assassination attempt of Donald Trump

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The FBI is investigating an apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump Sept. 15. 

Secret Service found a gunman at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, near the former president’s home, Mar-a-Lago. Trump was not injured.

It was the second attempted assassination of Trump in nine weeks.

“We’re in a strange, dark place now,” said Dewey Clayton, professor of political science at the University of Louisville. “I mean, to have two assassination attempts … that’s very frightening.”

The assassination attempts have talks of political rhetoric at the forefront.

“When our political rhetoric heats up and becomes as polarized as it is, people inclined to violence naturally gravitate toward politics as an avenue for carrying out those impulses,” said Stephen Voss, associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky.

Neither political party is at fault for the recent violence, Voss said.

“When people’s identities are as wrapped up in their political views as many people increasingly are, violence is a natural outcome, regardless of who’s using what rhetoric,” Voss said.

There are several other factors leading to this recent string of political violence, Clayton said, such as accessibility to guns, people seeking notoriety and social media.

He added he hopes politicians will take action.

“Our leaders have a responsibility to also take the lead and try to let everyone know that we need to tone down the language, tone down the rhetoric because this is very dangerous,” Clayton said.

The suspect was taken into custody shortly after Sunday’s incident. The Palm Beach County Sheriff said security at the Mar-a-Lago estate is “the highest it can possibly be.”