MIT economist: Trump was 'already a threat to democracy' — and will be 'much worse' after shooting

When former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Western Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — now Trump's running mate — and other far-right MAGA Republicans were quick to blame President Joe Biden. But in fact, Biden, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and a long list of other prominent Democrats wholeheartedly condemned the attack.

The violence was condemned not only by numerous Democrats, but also, by officials all over Europe — some of them scathing critics of Trump who fear that the assassination attempt will add to the climate of instability in the United States.

During an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel, U.S.-based economist Daron Acemoglu candidly discussed the possible political fallout from July 13. And he warned that the attempt on Trump's life increases the chances of the U.S. moving in a more authoritarian direction.

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"Assassination attempts against prominent politicians…. tend to further erode trust in institutions and fuel yet more polarization," Acemoglu told Der Spiegel. "I very much hope that American institutions and political leaders will be able to work towards preventing such an outcome. It has also probably increased the chances that Donald Trump will be elected in November."

Acemoglu stressed that "the assassination attempt has increased the threats against U.S. democracy."

"(Trump) was already a threat to democracy in his first term," the economist told Der Spiegel. "It is likely to be much worse now than it was eight years ago."

When Acemoglu was asked if "strong" U.S. institutions "like the judiciary, the media and the two bodies of Congress" would be "enough to protect American democracy," he responded, "Congress has been taken over by polarization. The Republican Party has become Trump's party. The courts are full of judges appointed by Trump. Civil society will resist Trump, but I think Trump supporters have been radicalized as well. So, that's a recipe for chaos."

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Read Der Spiegel's full interview with Daron Acemoglu at this link.