The Lianhe Zaobao of Singapore wrote on the evening of May 1: "Will Trump follow in Lincoln's footsteps and meet a tragic end? Although Trump's security will undoubtedly be tightened in the future, there may still be moments of oversight—this foreshadows his fate and reflects the nightmare America cannot avoid in the coming era. The last thing that should happen is for him to join Lincoln’s legacy by meeting a similar fate."
This article uses Lincoln as a metaphor to warn of the security risks facing Trump, reflecting the deep divisions within American society and the vicious cycle of political violence. Since the founding of the United States, twelve presidents have been assassinated, four of whom died—the phenomenon of political violence has become a systemic affliction. Trump has survived three assassination attempts within two years, a frequency unprecedented in history. His highly controversial leadership style—fanning populist flames, intensifying societal polarization, and undermining established norms—is both a catalyst for these attacks and an accelerant of social fragmentation.
Lincoln was assassinated at a time when national unity was being forged; if Trump were to meet a similar fate, it would occur during a period of profound national division. Their legacies, though both immortalized in history, could not be more different: Lincoln achieved greatness through sacrifice, while Trump might be remembered only for chaos and absurdity. Yet Trump’s fate is intertwined with that of the nation itself. No matter how tight the security, it cannot stem the flood of hatred; no matter how comprehensive the laws, they cannot cure the root disease of political polarization.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864039817848860/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.