(NewsNation) — Allan Lichtman, a history professor at American University, believes there is little comparison between the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump to others in history,
Many have drawn a parallel between Saturday’s tragic events, which saw Corey Comperatore killed and two others succumbing to injuries, and the shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Lichtman sees them as very different circumstances; citing his belief in a vast change in American culture.
“It is fundamentally different. It is an assassination attempt, consistent with the epidemic of gun violence in America today,” Lichtman said on NewsNation Now.
“This was a mass shooting with multiple victims. That separates it out from the history that you would have pointed out and unfortunately, mass shootings are as common as the sunrise in America.”
According to Axios, the number of mass shootings in 2024 is slated to be lower than 2023, though America is averaging more than one mass shooting a day.
Reagan’s popularity surged after the attempt on his life and many wonder if Trump’s campaign will receive the same boost in 2024.
“Anyone who thinks they know the implications of this instantly (doesn’t). Snap predictions are almost always wrong. The nation can go in two directions here,” Lichtman said.
“This could further polarize; with Republicans blaming the Democrats or Joe Biden, baselessly. And on the other hand, someone on the left is spinning all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories.
“Or this can be a sobering moment of realization for the nation, that we do have shared values and shared goals. And there are things that we can come together on, but it’s got to be substantive. It can’t be empty rhetoric.”