[Report] "Anyway, the President is Trump"… Supporters United Praising Their Hero

Trump Supporters Rally at Trump Tower a Day After Shooting
Support Base Unites, Sympathy for Moderates Spreads
Victory Tilted Toward Trump
Trump to Attend Convention as Scheduled to Solidify Momentum

"President Trump! President Trump!"

At noon on the 14th (local time) in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York. After former President Trump was shot in the right ear during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania the previous day, New York police were deployed around Trump Tower the next day, maintaining strict security. Despite the heightened police alert, dozens of supporters gathered early in front of Trump Tower. Supporters wearing hats with the slogan 'MAGA (Make America Great Again)' waved American flags and flags bearing MAGA, chanting Trump's name.

On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), the day after former President Trump was injured in the ear by a gunshot during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania, supporters of former President Trump gathered in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, under heavy police surveillance, shouting "President Trump" to express their support. New York ? Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), the day after former President Trump was injured in the ear by a gunshot during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania, supporters of former President Trump gathered in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, under tight police security, shouting "President Trump" to express their support. New York ? Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

Jo Riley, who attended the rally that day, said, "I came here this morning to express my support for Trump," adding, "The anti-Trump forces' attempts to illegally put Trump on trial have failed multiple times, and their attempts to overthrow Trump by force have also failed." He confidently stated, "Now Trump will win by an overwhelming margin."

The shooting incident involving former President Trump has strongly united his supporters. On the afternoon of the 13th, around 6:10 PM, during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a bullet grazed Trump's right ear. The shooter, 20-year-old white male Thomas Matthew Crooks, was immediately shot dead. Trump has already claimed that the various lawsuits against him are political retaliation, and among his supporters, the image of him as a victim of political terrorism is strong. With the addition of physical terrorism from the shooting incident the day before, his supporters are rallying tightly. A photo capturing former President Trump, surrounded by bodyguards and evacuating immediately after the shooting, clenching his fist behind the American flag to show composure and resilience, has been widely praised as "heroic." Analysts inside and outside Washington predict this will have a decisive impact on the presidential race. Unlike President Joe Biden, who is under pressure to resign after losing the TV debate, Trump is gaining support not only from his base but also from moderate voters, tipping the scales in his favor for victory.

Strong unity among Trump’s hardcore supporters was also confirmed in front of Trump Tower that day. The highlight was a car parade by Trump supporters. Around 12:50 PM, a procession of vehicles decorated with American flags and flags bearing Trump and MAGA slogans appeared with grand music and stopped in front of Trump Tower. Trump supporters quickly gathered in front of the vehicles, mixing together and repeatedly shouting "Trump," creating a festive atmosphere. Among the crowd of Trump supporters, tourists, and reporters, shouts of "President Trump!" and "God Bless Trump!" echoed through the streets. When a reporter asked a supporter shouting "President Trump" if he thought the shooting incident increased Trump’s chances of winning, he replied, "He just won."

On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), the day after former President Trump was injured in the ear by a gunshot during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania, supporters of former President Trump gathered in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, under heavy police surveillance, shouting "President Trump" to express their support. New York ? Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), the day after former President Trump was injured in the ear by a gunshot during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania, supporters of former President Trump gathered in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, under heavy police surveillance, shouting "President Trump" to express their support. New York ? Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), the day after former President Trump was injured in the ear by a gunshot during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania, supporters of former President Trump gathered in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, under heavy police surveillance, shouting "President Trump" to express their support. New York ? Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

Tyler, whom we met at a souvenir shop in Trump Tower, said, "Yesterday was truly terrible," but predicted, "I think Trump will win anyway, but more supporters will flock here because of what happened yesterday."

However, he also expressed concerns that the incident exposed the problem of a deeply polarized American society due to political issues. He emphasized, "The extreme hatred and division between the Republican and Democratic parties is exemplified by the terrorist incident the day before. Even if there are political differences, what happened yesterday was completely unnecessary. It should never happen to either Biden or Trump."

Washington is focusing on the political repercussions this incident may bring. For President Biden, it could be an opportunity to fend off calls for resignation within his party and return to work, but it has become difficult to focus on negative attacks against former President Trump, who survived a life-threatening situation. There is also pressure from some Republicans who claim a conspiracy theory that the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, ignored requests to strengthen security for Trump, trying to blame the Biden administration for the incident.

On the other hand, expectations for election victory are rising within the Republican Party. Republican Congressman Derek Van Orden of Wisconsin said immediately after the shooting, "Trump survived the attack," adding, "He just won the election." The political news outlet Politico reported, "This shooting adds shock to an already turbulent election," and "Within the Republican Party, the shooting incident is seen as making the path to the White House easier for Trump." The New York Times (NYT) noted, "A widely circulated photo shows Trump raising his fist with the American flag waving above his head," and evaluated, "With less than four months until the election, the Trump campaign's expectations for victory are becoming clear."

Meanwhile, former President Trump, who was injured in the ear by the shooting, plans to attend the Republican National Convention as scheduled from the 15th to the 18th to solidify the 'Trump momentum.' At this convention, Trump will be officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate and will deliver his acceptance speech on the final day, the 18th. The vice-presidential running mate will also be announced. Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, who competed with Trump until the end during the Republican primary, is confirmed to participate as a speaker the day before the opening. This is seen as a strategy to unify the Republican Party after the shooting incident, strongly rally the base, and expand support among moderate voters.