The political situation in the US is veering from disgust to shock. During a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, former President Donald Trump escaped an attempted assassination. It's unclear what this signifies for his November battle with Democrat Joe Biden, which has up to now been characterized by disdain for both candidates. However, the party's divisions and determination to implement drastic policy changes will deepen as the last remaining Trump supporters unite around their nominee.
Almost immediately, the shift started. Republicans who previously kept a critical distance toward the former president included Senator Susan Collins and former governor Nikki Haley, who battled against Trump for their party's candidacy. Haley has reversed course and will now speak on Tuesday at the party's national convention. Other powerful people are also officially supporting Trump: Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and Bill Ackman, the manager of a hedge fund, have both done so recently.
That is in contrast to the past six weeks, during which Trump was found guilty of a felony after it was alleged that he had falsified documents pertaining to payments for hush money. According to polls, half of Americans believe he should halt his campaign, and Biden reduced the margin of victory held by his opponent. Following a dismal debate performance in late June, doubts over the current president's suitability for office dogged his campaign.
People who would not have otherwise been motivated to vote for Trump might do so when they knew that he was facing the threat of death. Above all, a completely aligned party would be a stark contrast to his previous administration, in which huge overhaul measures faltered due to internal disputes, resulting in record levels of cabinet turnover. If Trump wins in November, his agenda might benefit from more rigorous and methodical implementation as the elites fall in line.
Nor is it probable that this agenda will abruptly become accommodating. Conservative policy analysts have advocated firing government agency career employees who are reluctant. Biden's Federal Trade Commission, for example, has only demonstrated a small portion of what is feasible with sweeper exits.
The partisan rift at home will deepen as a result. However, it also has consequences for America's neighboring countries. Even though Trump is extremely hostile toward China, a febrile political environment characterized by bloodshed and a unified front around a single person only serves to increase the stakes. It's possible that the proposed tariffs will usher in a new period of "America first."