Former president and prominent candidate for the 2024 election, Donald Trump, nearly lost his life on July 13 when he was shot in the face at a campaign rally.
Fortunately for Trump, he moved his head to the side just seconds before the shot was fired, so it only clipped his ear instead of piercing his brain. It could have been much worse, and one hospice chaplain says this near-death experience will likely change the controversial leader.
Donald Trump Gets a Head Shot
The world watched as Trump grabbed his ear in shock and dropped to the ground at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month. Within seconds, he was surrounded by Secret Service agents until they could safely remove him from the podium.
As he walked off, the side of his face covered in blood, the former president raised his fist in the air, showing his supporters his strength and resilience even after a harrowing experience.
Donald Trump: “I’m Supposed to Be Dead”
Just five days after the assassination attempt, Trump spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He told his millions of supporters, “I’m not supposed to be here. I had God on my side.”
Trump continued, “I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. Many people say it was a providential moment.”
Trump’s Questionable Devotion to Christianity
The fact that Trump used this platform to express his faith in God, specifically the Christian God, is not surprising. The Republican leader has always claimed to be a devout Christian; it’s been one of his leading campaign tactics during all three presidential elections.
However, many people have wondered exactly how “Christian” Trump really is. Some say he is using only religion as a way to connect with and gain the votes of the millions of Christians in America.
This Near-Death Experience May Actually Ignite a Real Faith in Trump
After avoiding death by mere centimeters, many wonder if Trump’s faux faith will become a true and lasting devotion to the God he believes saved his life.
Historically, Trump has been known for his extreme lack of empathy toward everyone, but especially people of color, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. And now, there is speculation that he could become a more inclusive leader.
Near-Death Experiences Increase Empathy
This hypothesis hasn’t been contrived out of thin air; there have actually been several scientific studies that explain how near-death experiences change people.
One such study, conducted by the University of Virginia School of Medicine, found that “NDEs lead to a shift from ego-centered to other-centered consciousness, disposition to love unconditionally, heightened empathy, decreased interest in status symbols and material possessions, reduced fear of death, and deepened spiritual consciousness.”
Hospice Chaplain Believes Trump Truly Will Change
One woman, Reverend Catherin Duncan, who works as a chaplain at hospice and trauma centers in Minnesota, recently explained to the press why she believes we could see a real shift in Trump’s personality after this life-changing experience.
Reverend Duncan said, “I think that experience, I would sense, with Trump, it opens up your sense of being alive, your sense of feeling, your sense of experience, and how do you want to move forward?”
Will Trump Start to Prioritize Unity Among All?
She also noted, “And there’s already been some rumblings politically about unity, can there be unity, and I could see Trump leaning towards a more middle way and unity among everyone.”
The reverend continued, “This could be a significant turning point for Trump for embracing the good, embracing how we can treat each other with love and kindness and how can we find a middle way in all the chaos right now.”
Evidence That Donald Trump Has Changed After the Assassination Attempt
During his speech this week at the RNC, Trump said, “To all of the forgotten men and women who have been neglected, abandoned, and left behind, you will be forgotten no longer.”
He also said, “We have to make the most of every day for the people and for the country we love…as long as our energies are spent fighting each other, our destiny will remain out of reach.”
Trump’s Stance on Immigration Has Remained the Same
Reverend Duncan believes these statements clearly communicated that Trump is more focused on unity than ever before. However, when listening to the rest of his speech, it’s difficult to say if that was the former president’s intended message.
During that same speech, Trump also said, “To keep our families safe, the Republican Party promises to launch the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” Clearly, the “forgotten men and women” he’s talking about doesn’t include anyone born outside the United States.
Trump’s Assassination Attempt Assured Him the Win
Reverend Duncan, as well as many others, believe that the assassination attempt has all but assured Trump’s victory in November. Many American Christians who were on the fence may vote for him simply because “[they] will say God saved him.”
Others will vote for him because they see him as a martyr, much like the beloved Jesus Christ, who is willing to get back up on stage and fight for his country even after almost losing his life doing so. Additionally, if Trump does actually change his messaging to be more inclusive, he will most likely blow the Democratic candidate out of the water.
Picking the Lesser of Two Evils
This presidential election is undoubtedly one of the most controversial in the nation’s history. There are many Americans who do not agree with Trump’s personal morals or his policies but who are struggling to vote for a Democrat candidate, like former presidential candidate Joe Biden.
Right now, millions of Americans feel as though they will be voting for the lesser of two evils, and if Trump can make himself appear even fractionally less evil, he might as well write his acceptance speech right now.
