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Before the latest suspected attack on Trump, there was already debate about what happens when a US candidate dies. The deputy does not always follow.
Washington DC – Trump has been the target of a suspected assassination attempt for the second time. The first occurred in July, when he was shot at a campaign event. He escaped with an injury to his ear. The second incident, which the ex-president is now using to fuel his election campaign, took place last week when he was at his golf club in Florida. He survived both times more or less unscathed. But what would actually happen if that were not the case?
Life-threatening in case of assassination attempt: When Trump or Harris die, the vice president does not always follow
In the past, assassinations have been planned on numerous US presidents. Some ended in death, as in the case of Abraham Lincoln, when he was shot in 1865. After his death, his vice president, Andrew Johnson, took over the office. The assassination attempt on President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, is particularly well-known. He was also succeeded by his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson.
Twice in just a few months there were attacks on the former President of the USA, Donald Trump. © Paul Sancya/dpa/AP
But both Trump and Harris are not currently president and are still in the election campaign. So who would succeed them? The think tank Brookings Institution provides the answer: If one of the two candidates dies or becomes incapacitated after the party convention and before the US election, then the National Committee of the respective party will meet to select a candidate. These committees are the national organizational bodies of the parties and are made up of representatives from all member states.
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If Trump were to die, the committee could, according to New Zurich Newspaper (NZZ) will choose his running mate JD Vance, as well as previous candidates such as Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley. For the Democrats, the choice could fall on people who were already under discussion before Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden in the election campaign. These would be Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer or Josh Shapiro, for example.
If a death occurs after election day and before the Electoral College meets, the situation is somewhat more complicated. In order to win the election and move into the White House, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral college votes. This means that after the US election, the electors in their states will come together in the Electoral College to cast their votes for the president and vice president, explains the Guardian.
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If the death occurs before this meeting, there is an incentive to agree on a replacement candidate nominated by the party. This could be the vice-presidential candidate, for example. After the Electoral College meeting and before taking office, and beyond, the vice-president takes the place of the deceased.
The reaction of the people to a hypothetical death of Trump would also be interesting. Arie Perliger is a professor of security studies at the School of Criminology and Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. NZZ he explains that the USA was on the brink of a potential civil war after the alleged attack on Trump last week. An assassination of the former president would therefore only further fuel the polarization among US citizens. (gel)
