Trump survives third assassination try amid political free fall

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Donald Trump has been written off a thousand instances and at all times managed to bounce again.

He held on when he first bought within the race and was mocked as a sideshow. When the "Entry Hollywood" tape got here out. When his supporters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.

He outlasted two impeachments and 4 prison circumstances. He gained reelection when that appeared like a protracted shot. He’s the Harry Houdini of Washington.

And on Saturday night time, he survived his third assassination attempt . At a dinner that was anticipated to characteristic the president mocking the media, his calm response to being focused by a closely armed shooter generated huge sympathy for him. It’s a harmful job, he stated.

THE LEFT'S DEHUMANIZATION OF TRUMP IS PUSHING PEOPLE OVER THE EDGE – WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/672/378/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-suspect007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/1344/756/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-suspect007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/931/523/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-suspect007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/1862/1046/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-suspect007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home after a taking pictures on the annual White Home Correspondents' Affiliation Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

In actual fact, he "fought like hell" to proceed with the Correspondents' Association dinner , however the Secret Service – certainly one of whose members was shot however saved by a protecting vest – insisted on clearing the room.

On the similar time, Trump has such mounting political issues that it’s exhausting to keep away from the conclusion he’s in a free fall.

The president is slowed down in an unpopular war and canceled the most recent talks. Rising fuel costs are inflicting ache at house. He could also be shedding the redistricting wars. A few of his most distinguished supporters within the conservative media have turned on him with a vengeance, even apologizing for having supported him.

That’s not all. The Democrats are nearly sure to win the Home. They're speaking about impeaching Trump the day they’re sworn in. Positive, he’d be acquitted within the Senate , however his final two years could be a blizzard of investigations and payback.

REPORT GIVES NEW DETAILS ON TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SUSPECT'S 'DESCENT INTO MADNESS'

What’s extra, the president can’t run once more. He’ll nonetheless have the facility of incumbency, however the Home can block most of what he desires to do (and that is past the media fantasy that the opposition occasion might take the Senate as effectively).

Within the ever-present polls , Trump has dropped as little as 33% approval in an AP survey, his worst numbers ever.

Extra eye-popping is a brand new survey with a big pattern, from Energy in Numbers/Verasight, which says 21% of Republicans assist impeachment, with 72% opposed. Amongst independents, 50% again impeaching the president.

And a Fox News poll discovered extra respondents trusting the Democrats over the Republicans on the financial system, by 4 factors, for the primary time in 15 years.

This comes in opposition to the backdrop of Trump having fired three girls in his Cupboard, creating a way of dysfunction, and his spouse giving a televised speech to disclaim any involvement with Jeffrey Epstein .

However let’s have a actuality examine.

Trump’s relentless attacks on the press have taken their toll, with many dismissing the protection as fueled by private hostility. And Democrats, with few exceptions, aren’t serving to themselves by showing to root for the Iranian terrorists when our service members are in danger.

By November, the Iran struggle might be a distant reminiscence. The financial system may get pleasure from an uptick. Even now, with the ceasefire collapsing over the Strait of Hormuz blockade, the inventory market has hit file highs.

Trump will use his media mastery to dominate the information agenda. He already takes calls from reporters in any respect hours.

SHOOTING SUSPECT'S MANIFESTO CLEARLY STATED WHO HE WANTED TO TARGET, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

The Democrats, in the meantime, are leaderless. Even when Hakeem Jeffries is speaker, the president will make much more information. That gained’t change till the 2028 primaries, when a front-runner or two emerges.

Trump could make information with executive orders , reminiscent of shifting marijuana to a decrease classification and boosting analysis into psychedelic medication.

The betrayal being voiced by his onetime allies on the proper, who embraced his pledge of no new overseas wars, could also be much less vital for these not immersed within the on-line world. However it's a bellwether for the splintering of the MAGA coalition.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/343/192/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/686/384/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/672/378/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/1344/756/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/931/523/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/1862/1046/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/720/405/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/04/1440/810/president-donald-trump-sniper-gun-briefing-white-house-04-06-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> President Donald Trump pretends to intention a sniper gun whereas talking with reporters within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture)

Now a few of its main members are calling him erratic and reckless.

Nobody is loving this greater than the Democrats and the By no means Trumpers, who say wait, you’re simply noticing this now? We’ve been telling you this for years.

"Trump appears to be like determined to run for the hills," says New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. "He continually says he has defeated the mullahs and ‘obliterated’ their army energy, and but Iran refuses to be subdued."

SEE PHOTOS: BEFORE AND AFTER SHOOTING AT WH CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER

What’s apparent, says veteran columnist Andrew Sullivan: "Trump is totally out of his depth. He went to struggle impulsively. He by no means anticipated the Iranians to shut the Strait of Hormuz; after which they did. And he can’t re-open it. In actual fact, he determined to shut it once more. Or one thing."

Throw within the AI image of Trump as Jesus , which offended many Catholics, and the listing of unforced errors simply grows. He’s even attacked the Supreme Courtroom, a 3rd of which he appointed.

And there may be rising concern concerning the well being of the president, who will quickly flip 80, with tv working footage each time he closes his eyes at a gathering.

President Donald Trump irked Individuals on either side of the aisle by posting an AI-generated picture depicting himself as Jesus Christ. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Photographs)

Trump frequently talks about constructing his huge ballroom, which reminds folks of his shock demolition of the East Wing and plans for a monument that might dwarf the Arc de Triomphe. He introduced it up after the gunfire on Saturday night time, saying the ballroom could be bulletproof and very safe.

Trump additionally used the gunfire on the Washington Hilton to underscore his personal significance. Having studied assassinations, he stated, "probably the most impactful folks, the those who do probably the most… they’re those they go after."

Politically talking, Trump is clearly struggling. However anybody who guidelines out a rebound for this president is ignoring historical past.

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There shall be every kind of twists and turns within the remaining six months earlier than the midterms, and the Democrats are unpopular as effectively.

However right here’s a second of uncommon consensus: We will all be grateful that the Secret Service did its job effectively.

Howard Kurtz is a media and political analyst and the previous host of FOX Information Channel's MediaBuzz . Based mostly in Washington, D.C., he joined the community in 2013 and frequently seems on Particular Report with Bret Baier and The Story with Martha MacCallum amongst different applications.