Former president Chen Shui-bian weighs in on the shooting of Donald Trump

Former president Chen Shui-bian weighs in on the shooting of Donald Trump

2024-07-14

An assassination attempt was made on the life of former U.S. president Donald Trump, while he was campaigning in Pennsylvania on Saturday. For Taiwanese, the incident was an eerie reminder of shootings that occurred during past elections in Taiwan. Former president Chen Shui-bian, who was the victim of one of those shootings, gave his analysis of how the attempted assassination of Trump could affect the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. However, amid concerns over incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden’s age, Chen says no conclusions can be made yet about the November election.

Former U.S. president Donald Trump, who is again running for election, was at a campaign event on Saturday when the sudden sound of a gunshot rang out.

Several more gunshots followed, and Trump reached for his right ear. Supporters at the rally crouched down and began screaming.

Members of secret service rushed the stage carrying firearms to secure the former president. Trump then stood up with the assistance of his security, raising his fist into the air in defiance.

Voice of CNN anchor
You can see him put his fist up, and you see him doing a fist pump. It appears like he’s saying “fight.” It looks as if there might be blood on his ear.

Trump’s motorcade quickly left the scene, and Trump was rushed to the hospital for treatment. The U.S. Secret Service later confirmed that the former president was safe and in good condition. A spokesperson for the Trump campaign also thanked law enforcement and ambulance personnel in a statement.

Some have drawn comparisons to Taiwan’s 2004 presidential election, when then-president Chen Shui-bian was shot while campaigning for reelection. In that incident, the bullet grazed Chen’s abdomen before he was rushed to the hospital.

Chen Shui-bian
Former president
Similarly it happened during an election event, on the final day while campaigning in Tainan – Taiwan’s cradle of democracy. Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot, could be said to be America’s cradle of democracy. It’s the birthplace of their revolution, so there are a lot of similarities. I was hit in the stomach and he was hit in the ear. I hope this incident also makes us more careful. If it happens in the U.S., we in Taiwan should also watch out.

Chen’s shooting brought an end to campaigning that year, and Chen narrowly won the election by a 0.22 percent margin. Later, in 2010, Sean Lien of the KMT was shot while on stage stumping for a fellow party member during local elections.

Lien Chan (2010.11.26)
Honorary KMT chair
At this time, my son is being treated in the hospital. His condition is still unknown.

The KMT pressed on with campaigning and won seats in Taipei, while keeping its seats in New Taipei and Taichung. Some are now asking whether Trump’s shooting will similarly propel the Republicans to victory in the U.S.

Chen Shui-bian
Former president
It should be disadvantageous for the incumbent U.S. president. However, if the Democrats are forced to replace their candidate, if they choose a female nominee or someone younger, then the election outcome would be harder to predict.

Campaigning for the U.S.’ November election is heating up, and with Trump now the victim of an assassination attempt, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

川普競選遭槍擊! 陳水扁憶319槍擊案評估"對現任者選情不利"

2024-07-14

美國前總統川普週六前往賓州巴特勒造勢，現場突然槍聲大作，他臉上有血跡、顯然受傷；CNN引述當局說法，槍手已遭擊斃，這起槍擊案造成支持民眾1死2傷。前總統陳水扁2004年他競選連任，也在選前被槍擊，他評估，槍擊案的發生對現任者的選情比較不利。

美國前總統川普前一刻還在對支持民眾、大罵拜登政府，突然槍響大作。

一長串聲響，讓現場尖叫聲不斷，只見川普先是摀住右耳，立刻趴下，身邊隨扈飛撲川普身上。

持槍維安人員上台，確定不會再有威脅，川普在隨扈攙扶下站起來，立刻舉起拳頭。

[[聲源:CNN主播]]
“可以看見川普舉起拳頭，他高舉拳頭，他似乎在說戰鬥，看起來耳朵上似乎有一些血跡。”

川普車隊迅速離開現場，將人送去醫院檢查，密勤局隨後證實前總統安全、沒有大礙，川普競選團隊發言人也透過聲明感謝執法和救護人員。

鏡頭轉到台灣，2004年3月19日，台灣總統選前一天，競選連任的陳水扁遭近距離開槍，子彈擦過他的腹部，緊急送醫。如今聽到競選總統的川普也遭槍傷，格外有感。

[[前總統陳水扁]]
“同樣的在選舉活動，最後一天在台南民主聖地發生，賓州也可以說是美國民主聖地，他們革命的發源地，所以有很多的巧合。我被打到肚子，他被打到耳朵，我希望這件事情也讓我們特別要小心，美國會發生，我們台灣也要小心。”

當年因為兩顆子彈，藍綠陣營停止競選活動，隔天開票，扁呂配得票率險勝對手2/1000，連任成功。2010年，同樣也是選前一天，連勝文為國民黨議員選將站台，也在舞台上遭到槍擊。

[[國民黨榮譽黨主席連戰(2010.11.26)]]
“我的兒子這時候，正在醫院躺在那裡，情況還不明。”

藍營猛力催票，選舉結果國民黨台北大贏、新北台中都保住。這回川普遭到槍擊，會不會對美國總統大選結果產生影響？

[[前總統陳水扁]]
“對現任者應該是比較不利，如果民主黨最後被迫不得不換人，如果是女性的候選人、年輕的候選人，其結果可能還是難預料。”

美國總統大選激戰，槍擊案發生，更讓後勢難料。

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I’m getting the bento and water. I’d like to get five.

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We hope that the CT273 will give passengers an enriching journey on a steam locomotive, and that the overall creative development of the Hualien-Taitung region will be further promoted.

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In 2007, a group of older adults known as the Grandriders broke onto the scene, shattering stereotypes with their scooter adventures. This year, they hit the road again for a 10-day round-the-island trip. Leading the pack is Kuo Shen-sen, a centenarian who proves that age is just a number. The youngest rider is 65-year-old Chiu Chi-hsing, who’s tackling the challenge with a prosthetic leg and a will of steel. We join them on the journey in our Sunday special report.

It’s March 2024, and 29 senior citizens are gathered here with a shared dream. Their average age is 75. Some are hard of hearing, others are cancer survivors. Some of them are living with heart stents. Despite their physical limitations, they’re ready to embark on a 10-day, 1,175-kilometer adventure that will take them around the island.

The 29 Grandriders have trained long and hard for this day, even going on a 120-kilometer test ride one month earlier.

Their helmets and scooters are numbered for easy identification. This way, volunteers can keep track of the group throughout the trip. Today, the Grandriders set off from Taichung and make their way counterclockwise around the island. But the trip starts out bumpy.

Ruan Yi-yu
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The main issue was the heavy rush hour traffic. There was a left turn signal and some of our Grandriders got confused. They saw everybody turning left, and so they turned left, too. Later there was some space by the side of the road, and we regrouped there. It’s a good thing that we had our volunteers on hand. They noticed the issue right away and brought our Grandriders back here.

With a cold front pushing south, temperatures are down to about 14 degrees Celsius. The Grandriders face a rigorous test against the cold.

Kuo Shen-sen
Grandrider
The top of a scooter is my favorite place to be. On a scooter, you can ride up to the mountains. You can head down to the water. At my age, being able to ride a scooter to the mountains and the water is great.

Grandrider Kuo Shen-sen tackles life with a smile, and that’s his secret to good health. At the age of 100, Kuo is on his fifth round-the-island scooter challenge. Holding up special stickers made just for him, the centenarian is proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.

Kuo Ching-hui
Daughter of Grandrider Kuo Shen-sen
He’s drinking his nutritional supplement. We call his supplements “happy meals.” They keep his energy up and they’re easy to digest.

The older Kuo was assigned No. 1 for the trip. He leads the way, cruising along steadily and surely.

Kuo Ching-hui
Daughter of Grandrider Kuo Shen-sen
I can see all the effort my dad puts into these trips. He prepares the whole year, keeping up his health so that he can ride happily for 10 days. He’s setting a very important example for us kids. He’s working hard in pursuit of his own happiness, to build his own life, even at the age of 100.

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They’re riding scooters around the island. That’s a challenge even for a lot of young people. The fact that they can do it has a great deal of symbolic significance. It shows that not all older adults are stuck lying in bed. They can also go out and do very interesting things, very challenging things.

As a young man working for a factory, Kuo went from Taipei to Kaohsiung each week, traveling by scooter. So he’s no novice when it comes to this mode of transport. Even at the age of 100, he still has the stamina and willpower needed for long trips.

Kuo Shen-sen
Grandrider
I’m just 100 years old. I don’t feel old. For me, being 100 years old is normal. I’m no different from anyone else. You see, I’m full of vitality. I just live a normal life. I sleep at 9 o’clock, I eat three meals a day, I go out and exercise, I ride my scooter, I exercise happily. That’s it. I’m happy just doing that.

To help Kuo complete the trip, his son and daughter have both taken time off work.

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When dad did his round-the-island trip in 2019, I joined him on a scooter. When he did it again in 2022, I went along in a coach bus. In 2023, she went along in a coach bus.

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I figured that this time, it was my turn. It’s my turn. So I raised my hand and volunteered to be with him.

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It’s a blessing for us children that dad is in such great health. Why’s that? I’m taking time off work to have fun with him. That’s better than taking time off work to be with him in a hospital, right? A lot of people ask us how we can do this. I say, this is a happy occasion.

At 65 years old, Chiu Chi-hsing is the youngest Grandrider in the group. When he was 4 years old, he lost his right leg in a gravel truck accident. Growing up, he endured bullying and ridicule.

Chiu Chi-hsing
Grandrider
People would refer to me as “the cripple.” I got used to it. You have to get used to such things. If you don’t, you end up miserable. There’s nothing in this world that you can change simply by worrying about it. No amount of worrying can make a thing better, so why worry?

With his characteristic candor, Chiu pulls off his prosthetic leg in front of the camera.

He calls himself the “One-Legged Fun Seeker.” With a prosthetic leg and a will of steel, he climbed to the top of Yushan in 2022. In 2024, he’s riding around the island to cross it off his bucket list.

Chiu Chi-hsing
Grandrider
Actually there are a lot of people like me. They can’t come out of their shells. Instead, they just hole up at home. That’s extremely bad for them. I might walk slower than other people, but I can still reach the finish line.

For one older couple, this round-the-island tour fulfills a promise they made to each other 50 years ago.

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When we were young, we said to each other that our finances were the top priority. We couldn’t go out and have fun. We said that once our children were grown and our finances allowed it, we would go on a scooter trip around the island.

Several years ago, Wang Chao-ching saw his brother lose his wife. His brother could only carry a photo of her on a train, to fulfill their round-the-island dream. It was then that Wang and his own wife realized that life was unpredictable, and that they should live with no regrets. So Wang’s wife, Chi Tien-hua, learned to ride a scooter and obtained a license. Together, they signed up for the Grandriders club to make their dreams come true.

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We had wanted to ride on a single scooter. But the association said no, we each had to be on our own scooter. But that’s fine, getting out here is what matters.

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