Trump Cannot Stop Lying: The Nation Report on the Erosion of Empathy
Tehran - BORNA - The report suggests that even in the face of death, the U.S. President seems incapable of sincerity. This observation comes after a gunman opened fire on Saturday during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, marking the third assassination attempt against Trump.
While no one was seriously injured and the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, was apprehended, the incident highlights a troubling pattern of deception following such attacks.
Following two previous attempts in 2024—the first at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the second at his golf course in Florida—Trump consistently used the incidents to spread baseless claims. Despite vague or non-partisan motives from the previous assailants, Trump blamed Democrats and "Communist Left rhetoric" for the violence.
Following Saturday’s shooting, the suspect’s manifesto described his motive as a refusal to let a "child molester, rapist, and traitor" continue to rule—references widely understood to target Trump.
However, during a "60 Minutes" interview with Norah O’Donnell, Trump reacted with hostility when the manifesto was quoted, calling the host a "disgrace" and a "terrible person" for reading it.
In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Trump claimed the attacker hated Christians. "When you read this manifesto, you understand that he hates Christians. That is for sure," Trump asserted.
However, investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein revealed this claim to be false. Allen was, in fact, a devout Christian whose faith likely motivated his actions. In his manifesto and on social media, Allen identified as a Protestant and frequently compared Trump to the "Antichrist."
Referring to an image of Trump depicted as Jesus, Allen cited a verse from the Book of Revelation regarding the mark of the beast, stating there would be "no rest day or night" for those who worshiped its "savagery."
While political tradition usually dictates a bipartisan condemnation of violence, The Nation argues that Trump is incapable of such basic decency. The New York Times noted that Trump’s own history of violent rhetoric and his lies regarding the 2020 election—which led to the January 6 Capitol riot—have fueled the current atmosphere.
Journalist Dylan Byers, who was present at the dinner, noted a disturbing lack of public concern following the shooting.
At a nearby bar, patrons reportedly showed more interest in a hockey game than the news of the assassination attempt.
Amid Political Maneuvering The report suggests several reasons for this public apathy. First, Trump has diluted the horror of these attempts through political exploitation and prior lies. Following the latest shooting, he reportedly used the event to justify long-standing plans to renovate the West Wing into a "ballroom and bunker."
Furthermore, as the administration oversees large-scale violence—including aggressive ICE operations and the ongoing war against Iran—it has become increasingly difficult for the public to muster concern for a single act of violence against a leader who has consistently incited it himself.
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