A top Chinese media pundit has suggested that the attempted assassination of Donald Trump will bolster the former president’s chances in the upcoming November 5 election.
“My feeling is that the shot will win Trump a lot of sympathy, and he seems to be one step closer to returning to the White House,” Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the state media outlet Global Times, wrote on X on Sunday.
Trump’s ear was grazed by a bullet when a gunman opened fire during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. The attack resulted in the death of one attendee and serious injuries to two others. The suspected shooter, identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service snipers.
Footage from the incident shows a bloodied Trump defiantly raising his fist as Secret Service agents form a protective barrier around him and escort him off stage.
Hu, known for his nationalistic views and with a vast audience in China and globally, called the incident “shocking” on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo. He predicted the shooting would earn Trump, 78, “a lot of sympathy points” and bring him “one step closer to returning to the White House.” Hu pointed out that President Ronald Reagan saw a boost in approval ratings after the failed attempt on his life on March 30, 1981.
“Trump’s would-be assassin has left a mark on American politics that will be felt by voters long after his injuries heal,” Hu wrote. “In trying to kill the 45th president, Saturday’s shooter may just have handed him a second run.”
The Chinese internet buzzed with discussion about the shooting, with images of Trump’s blood-splattered face inspiring T-shirts and other merchandise on Chinese e-commerce sites. The comments under Hu’s post revealed mixed viewpoints among his readership. “Trump is really lucky. He has not backed down, but has become more courageous as he fights,” one person wrote.
However, some expressed concern about the implications of a second Trump presidency for China. “Trump’s coming to power is not a good thing for China, and he will continue to engage in unilateral trade protectionism,” said one Weibo user, referencing the Trump administration’s tariffs on over $300 billion worth of Chinese goods.
President Joe Biden maintained these tariffs and recently announced their expansion to new categories of Chinese exports in May.
The Trump presidency marked a chill in U.S.-China relations, with the superpowers clashing over issues such as human rights, the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, and China’s initial handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. On Sunday, China’s foreign ministry announced that President Xi Jinping had “expressed sympathies” to Trump.