The entire perspective of the 2024 political sphere has shifted within the few short months of summer break. Joe Biden stepped out of the race, Donald Trump was almost assassinated, and Kamala Harris has become the Democratic presidential candidate. The most notable political developments from this summer include:
- Biden and Trump’s First Debate Was a Disaster
The June 27 debate between former President Trump and President Biden was rough for both of them. Trump made various false statements, and Biden seemed to have a hard time articulating his sentences.
Despite the mere three-and-a-half-year gap between the two, it is stated by CNN that, “The gap… seemed much larger”. Soon after the debate, Trump got another massive win. After a lot of legal trouble, he finally managed to get something to go well for him.
2. Supreme Court Rules Criminal Prosecution Immunity for “Official Acts as President.”
In one of Trump’s many legal battles, he brought an issue to the Supreme Court. He and his lawyers argued that former presidents should have immunity from criminal prosecution for “acts they commit in office.” The Supreme Court ruled in favor of this. However, the lower courts are to decide exactly which acts he is immune to judgment from.
This ruling has not been without controversies; many are concerned it grants the president too much power.
Highlands High School Government teacher Megan Boimann-Hennies elaborated, “Those who disagree with the Court’s decision argue that this is a slippery slope – that giving such immunity could lead to the removal of political opponents or other serious crimes committed by the president.”
These fears are not unfounded; this ruling reduces the numerous checks and balances in place to maintain stability between the branches of the government.
3. Trump is Almost Assassinated
Shortly after the immunity ruling, Trump was almost assassinated at a Pennsylvania rally. According to NPR, the assassin was spotted by police around two minutes before shots were fired.
The shooter, later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was laid on top of a building diagonal from Trump. An officer attempted to “[pull] himself up to the roof” but in the process was met at gunpoint by Crooks. This resulted in the police disengaging the attempt to ascend, but before they could work out a new strategy, Crooks fired at the former president.
In the investigations surrounding the attempt on Trump’s life, it was revealed that Crooks had been registered as a Republican in Pennsylvania’s voter registration. However, in 2021, he donated $15 to ActBlue, a Democratic organization. This has created doubts surrounding the true motivation behind the assassination, but nothing has come to light so far.
4. J.D. Vance is Chosen as Trump’s Running-Mate
On the second day of the convention, Donald Trump chose senator and author J.D. Vance as his pick for vice president.
Highlands High School Government teacher Kym Grillot explained, “Each political party investigates a candidate by looking into their personal background, the background of their family, their work/job experience, and their elected positions… so when the vice-presidential candidate is finally chosen, each party chooses the best political and personal fit for the presidential candidate.”
Vance’s initial claim to fame was his book “Hillbilly Elegy,” which detailed his life in the Midwest. He then became an adamantly “Anti-Trump” conservative senator.
Vance said he has had a genuine change of heart about Trump, but critics have said he’s just trying to further his career. Vance demonstrates the hope for votes from Midwestern swing states, as he focused much on his origins in that area.
5. Biden Steps Down, Harris Steps In
Only a month after his poor performance in the June debate, Biden chose to step out of the race and endorse his vice president, Kamala Harris.
Boimann-Hennies expressed her opinions on the matter, “[Biden has become] the first sitting president to not seek reelection since President Lyndon B. Johnson decided to not seek reelection in 1968. As a history and government teacher, it has been really fascinating to see how both the Democratic and Republican parties have shifted their strategies.”
The Trump campaign had been preparing for a potential Harris campaign for weeks. Harris quickly earned enough support to become a candidate for nomination.
