In this essay for The Free Press, Elliot Ackerman reflects on Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt through the lens of combat leadership.
Drawing on his experience leading Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ackerman examines what it means to remain composed under fire and to project calm when others are looking for direction.
Leadership Under Fire
Ackerman compares Trump’s instinct after the shooting to the behavior expected of a combat leader: control fear, steady those around you, and make a deliberate choice in a moment of danger.
A Defining Public Moment
The essay considers how Trump’s raised fist and call to “fight” immediately shaped the political meaning of the attack. Ackerman argues that the moment gave Trump new moral authority and changed the presidential race.
Responsibility After Crisis
At its center, the essay is about what leaders do after surviving danger. Ackerman concludes that the real test is whether Trump uses the moment to divide further or to help bring the country together.