One Year Later

A year ago today, an assassination attempt was made on Donald Trump's life....so where are we now?

Exactly one year ago today, in Butler, Pennsylvania, an attempt was made on Donald Trump‘s life. It was during the heat of the 2024 campaign, and the reverberations of that moment created lasting shockwaves across the political spectrum. Despite this disgusting example of political violence, its ramifications extended far beyond the tragic events of that day. There is no question that Americans’ daily lives have changed—but I have one simple question: Is America better off now than it was a year ago?

The fallout from the assassination attempt, combined with President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance, effectively sealed Donald Trump‘s victory in November 2024. And unlike his first administration, where Trump nominated figures like General James Mattis and Secretary Rex Tillerson—both with long-standing expertise and global credibility—this second term has been defined by a single theme: loyalty above all else. Individuals such as conspiracy theorist Kash Patel, now find themselves elevated to high-level positions—not because of qualification, but because of their personal allegiance to Trump.

Make no mistake: through his appointments, executive orders, and messaging, President Trump has relayed that the only thing of importance to him is using the powers of the presidency to protect and enrich himself. Consider his decision to push the Department of Justice to investigate political opponents— while shutting down any investigation into himself. This includes pardoning 1600 people responsible for the January 6 riots attempting to overthrow the 2020 election.

No matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, you likely have serious issues with how Trump has conducted himself in his second term. So let’s return to the original question: Are we better off? I believe the answer is an overwhelming no.

The commander-in-chief is constitutionally charged with protecting the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Not only has any objective evaluation of President Trump’s record on this front been lackluster—one could argue that his actions have made the country more dangerous. Internationally, he has undermined NATO by threatening to pull the U.S. out unless other countries “pay up,” weakened the U.S.-South Korea alliance by reducing troop presence, and openly praised authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. These aren’t just rhetorical gaffes—they’re policy signals that shift the balance of global power away from America’s traditional leadership role.

Domestically, his policies have fostered fear, division, and authoritarianism. His deployment of United States Marines into Los Angeles to police a two block area is not only over the top, but has continued to desensitize Americans to the use of military force on domesticated soil. Trump has repeatedly ignored the norms of democratic governance. In his 2024 campaign speeches, he pledged to “root out the deep state” and engage in retribution against his enemies—and his administration has followed suit by launching probes into journalists, tech CEOs, and even federal judges.

And here’s the final reason I know we are not better off as a nation: Can anyone point to a single action by President Trump that attempted to unify the country? Did he visit a Black church, mosque, or immigrant community and speak about shared values? Did he lead a national moment of mourning after the multiple natural disasters that have occurred and the loss of life that they caused? No. His most visible “moments” continue to be rallies, where he routinely refers to political opponents as “vermin” and claims the media is the “enemy of the people.”

Instead of uniting the country in the aftermath of the Butler attack—when political violence should’ve brought Americans together—Trump capitalized on the moment, declaring himself a “chosen survivor” and invoking martial imagery that echoes the rhetoric of authoritarian regimes.

Right now, the American way of life is suffering its greatest assault since the Civil Rights Movement. Civil institutions are under attack. Faith in elections is dangerously eroded. The rise in domestic militia activity, paired with the chilling effect of Trump’s DOJ targeting dissenters, is unprecedented in modern times.

And as Americans suffer through economic uncertainty, curtailment of reproductive rights, rollbacks of civil protections, and the open talk of using the military as a domestic police force, we must remember: we are not powerless. Engagement at all levels of government—school boards, city councils, state legislatures, and yes, the federal level—is not optional. It is essential.

We cannot afford to normalize behavior like detaining migrants without due process, flirting with re-establishing internment-like facilities, or defunding public services that millions of working Americans have paid into for decades—Social Security, Medicare, public education.

Despite his efforts, President Trump is not a king, and he is not America—we, the people, are. And one year after one of the most heinous political acts of violence in our lifetimes, America must reclaim its identity. But that starts with honesty—about who we are, where we are, and how far we’re willing to go to reclaim the promise of a nation of, by, and for the people.