The assassination attempt on former President Trump days may have prompted some speakers at the Republican National Convention to rethink their rhetoric, but the party is redoubling its message on crime and public safety, which it sees as a winning issue, RollCall reports. Republicans used the second day of their convention to promote the need to “Make America Safe Again.” The theme has become increasingly relevant for Republicans after the incident where a 20-year-old gunman fired shots at Trump's campaign rally in Butler County, Pa., resulting in one fatality and two critical injuries. While the shooting could end up becoming an inflection point in Trump’s re-election campaign, it’s unlikely to lead to differences in messaging on gun rights and related topics both at the RNC and in the three-and-a-half months until Election Day.
Much attention has been paid to the Trump campaign’s effort to lower the political temperature this week and cast the assassination attempt as a moment for national unity. “He has a tremendous opportunity to reset the discussion in America and be able to lead America forward from that horrific attempted assassination,” said Wisconsin delegate Eric Toney, the district attorney for Fond du Lac County in the eastern part of the state and the GOP’s 2022 candidate for Wisconsin attorney general. “That’s a special opportunity for President Trump in a moment in history that we’ve seen so many people that are siloed.” However, there is no anticipation that the shooting will herald new political stances or policies from the Trump campaign. The aftermath of the shooting can be felt both in the convention hall, where religious leaders have led Republican delegates, supporters and activists in giving thanks for Trump’s health, and within the security perimeter outside of it, where Secret Service and law enforcement have beefed up their personnel.