Barring a Democrat miracle, Donald Trump is set to become the 47th president of the United States, Trump aide Shalabh Kumar told NDTV. The Chicago businessman stressed that the assassination attempt means the November election is decided for Trump.
“This assassination attempt has effectively decided the election. The election is pretty much over. It’s very difficult for Democrats to know what to do now. There is this contrast playing out in the minds of voters. Two weeks ago there was the Trump-Biden debate and everybody, including President Biden, recognised that it was a really bad night for him. He just seemed lost. He seemed to be nowhere and couldn’t answer any questions. He was what we call Sleepy Joe,” Kumar, chairman of the Republican Hindu Coalition, said.
“In contrast, we have a man of steel, a warrior. He doesn’t look 78 years old. If he had looked straight after being shot in his right ear, the bullet would have hit him in the head. He stands up and fights and says fight, fight, fight. That’s what Americans want to see from their president. As things stand, there is still a month left unless the Democrats put up another candidate. This election is over,” said the prominent Indian-American businessman.
Asked whether Democrats were reconsidering their presidential nominee, he said he expected some last-minute changes to make for an exciting race, with a decision still a month away, he said.
“I’m still betting that President Barack Obama will convince his wife, Michelle Obama, to replace him at the last minute. Then it will be a real contest. Then it will be between Trump and Michelle Obama. It will not be between Trump and Joe Biden. It will not be between Trump and Kamala Harris. Behind the scenes, the Democrats are all hoping that Michelle Obama will be persuaded to become the Democratic nominee. A good contest is always a good thing,” said the man who worked on Ronald Reagan’s reelection campaign in 1984.
“They have to do something different. I’m hoping Obama will convince Michelle to run so it’ll be a real competition. They have to find another candidate,” the businessman said.
Asked about the progress of fundraising efforts following the assassination attempt, Kumar said there had been a dramatic increase.
“Money is moving at a tremendous rate. The donor base is seeing DJT (Donald John Trump) come back as the 47th president. You know what Elon Musk did: $45 million per month leading up to the election. Peter Thiel. Big names have come forward and are funding the campaign. After the assassination attempt, fundraising has increased dramatically,” said the businessman, who is not only a donor but also campaigns to urge people to vote as Trump prepares for a second showdown with Joe Biden.
Donald Trump formally secured the Republican presidential nomination on Monday, picked right-wing stalwart J.D. Vance as his running mate, and kicked off the party’s triumphant convention following the weekend’s assassination attempt.
“There are 6 million Hindus in the country, of which 3.3 million are registered to vote. Hindus and Indian Americans like to declare their independence. They go back and forth. In 2008, 2012, they were mostly Democrats. Then in 2016, there was a big shift, especially in battleground states. And in 2020, they have again switched to Democrats. They may be on the fence. Hindus essentially decide who to vote for at the last minute, probably on election day. They are not committed to any particular party,” he said.
The 78-year-old former president was wounded but survived the assassination attempt, a brazen attack that shocked an already deeply divided nation ahead of November’s election.
“The country is divided. But before the debate, and especially after the debate, the country was leaning toward Trump,” he said.
Multiple explosions rang out as Trump spoke, he clutched his ears and was visibly bloody from his ears and cheek, and crouched on the floor as Secret Service agents swarmed the podium, surrounded him and hurried him to a nearby car.
Iconic footage of a bloodied Trump shaking his fist after the shooting has already stoked Republican hopes that voters will further support Trump to win a landslide victory in November’s presidential election.
“The election campaign after the assassination attempt has been very different. Absolutely not. The enthusiasm of the delegates, the people on the ground and the MAGA supporters is at its highest point. As we all feel, barring a Democratic miracle, he is the 47th president of the United States and we are all very happy about that,” he emphasized.
