Two days after a failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, Mainers said they weren’t surprised by the news and that anger and divisiveness have escalated throughout the country.
One man was killed and two others critically injured at the shooting during an outdoor campaign event in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump was grazed by a bullet that he said hit his upper right ear.
The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Brooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. As of Monday, a motive has not been determined.
The Bangor Daily News spoke with Mainers to find out what’s on their minds in the days since the first attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in 19 years, when a man threw a hand grenade at George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in 2005 in Georgia. The grenade did not explode and no one was injured.
Below, Mainers recount how they learned about the assassination attempt, and their thoughts on it in the days that followed.
Catherine Kent, Ellsworth
Catherine Kent was at the Union Fair with her husband when he got a text about the shooting.
“Sadly, it’s not surprising,” Kent, 38, said, adding she was surprised the shooter was able to get close enough with an AR-style gun.
The attempt will likely help Trump’s campaign because he’s been blamed for violence, including the Jan. 6 insurrection, but now the violence is aimed against him, Kent said. The picture of Trump pumping his arm in the air with blood on his face also plays into the narrative.
“It just lends support to the whole narrative that people are attacking him in ways a normal candidate is not attacked,” Kent said.
Bill Bryant, Bangor
Whether or not people care for Trump as a candidate, they can get as mad as they want, but they should never resort to violence, Bill Bryant, 63, said.
“I can’t imagine going through life that angry,” he said. “It’s just about as unfortunate as you could imagine that something like that could happen.”
Bryant said he feels terrible for Trump and his family.
“There’s a lot of negative, sad things that go on in the world today,” he said. “We have to hang on to hope and faith and learn how to be happy.”
Becky Pratt, Bangor
Becky Pratt was in her kitchen when she heard about the attempt.
“My first thoughts were, ‘Trump’s going to win,’” Pratt, 61, said.
His supporters would be angry and energized, she worried. But in the days after she said she’s changed her mind because it seems like Trump is calming his language and hopefully approaching the campaign differently.
“Hopefully the vitriol will calm down and we’ll get back to the issues and focus on substance,” Pratt said.
A campaign from both candidates with actual substance around policy is what needs to happen moving forward, she said.
Gun violence is common in the United States and can be something people resort to so they feel seen, Pratt said.
“It was just a way for this young person to feel seen,” Pratt said. “I think we need a little kindness.”
Ashleigh and Gavin Darling, Bucksport
Ashleigh and Gavin Darling were at home when Gavin Darling, 23, saw the videos of the shooting on social media.
“It was just very scary,” Ashleigh Darling, 19, said. “No matter how much you hate him, you shouldn’t be trying to kill him.”
In the couple days since the assassination attempt, Gavin Darling said he’s seen more people support Trump.
“It’s wild that someone hates a political figure that much,” he said.
Nathan Dorman, Exeter
Nathan Dorman was fishing without cellphone service Saturday. He learned about the attempt when he got home.
“It’s pretty hard to believe,” Dorman said. “Regardless of what side you’re on, it’s pretty amazing that we’re at that point.”
The divisiveness in the country may get worse but hopefully it’ll bring people together, he said.
“It’s bad that it happened but it’s a great opportunity to unite us,” Dorman said.
