This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Honestly, I think it looks like it was staged because if they really wanted to kill this man, they could have killed him like [former U.S. President John F.] Kennedy, [former U.S. President Abraham] Lincoln, all these other presidents they’ve assassinated, and he just got hit in the ear? To me, it looks like if they really wanted to kill him, they would have killed him.”

Richie Parker,
ParkchesterR

“Well, he was lucky. This could change the outcome of the election; you can’t quantify it, yeah. Emotionally, voters will maybe go for him after this attempted assassination. Ironically, it may bode well for him as a presidential candidate.”

Lance Rosenbaum,
Norwood

“The whole thing is very bizarre, very weird, a major dramatic event. I mean history almost changed just by an inch or so. We’d be looking at a very different election if that bullet had been an inch over. You know what’s amazing is I figured Trump has such
good protection that nobody would ever get off a shot at him. It’s pretty weird that the kid was able to sneak in there and do that. I’m not suggesting it was fake; some people seem to think it was fake. I don’t think it was a conspiracy. I think it was just a nut; a crazy kid somehow slipped under the fence and got through their defenses.”

Tim Burrows,
Kingsbridge Heights

“I am suspicious about the assassination attempt; I don’t believe it was a real assassination attempt on Former President Trump. I’m concerned about [U.S. President Joe] Biden having stepped out of the race. I think he was pressured unnecessarily and it’s concerning that our democracy is at stake. I’m hopeful that Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to lead the country. I think this country has so much racism that I don’t know if she will get a lot of votes.”

Cheryl Hurst,
Bedford Park

“Thank God Trump was only grazed by that bullet; I can’t believe the Secret Service let him [the shooter] get through even though they were warned of the threat. I’m usually not a conspiracy theorist, but it seems too convenient considering the facts.”

Dennis MacLane,
Old Bridge New Jersey