Photo by The Now Time on Unsplash
Today is inauguration day, where we will see the start of Trump’s second term in office. The Trump taking office today is a different Trump than the one who took office in 2016, however. The historical circumstances have changed entirely, and so has Trump himself. Referring to the hero of Greco-Roman Mythology from the poet Virgil, Jonathan Keeperman describes Trump as the modern Aeneas. He writes that Trump – like Aeneas – exposed the hypocrisy of elites while representing the frustrated aspirations of ordinary Americans. But on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, everything changed. The assassination attempt on Trump was a defining moment that transformed him into a classical hero, destined to reshape history.
When the shots rang out, one grazed Trump’s ear, missing his skull by a miraculous fraction. In the immediate aftermath, as his security detail urged him to retreat, Trump rose from the ground, blood streaked across his face, and defiantly raised his fist to the stunned crowd. At that moment, he transcended his image as a showman and politician. He became a symbol of resilience, defiance, and devotion to the American people.
The near-death experience redefined Trump’s legacy. Before, he was the imperfect instrument of America’s cultural rebellion—a crude yet effective rebuke to the bloated bureaucracies and moral decay of the ruling class. After Butler, he became a figure of fate, embodying a profound love of country. The Mandate of Heaven seemed to settle upon him as if the divine had chosen him to lead America through its dark night of the soul.
Trump’s story now reads like a mythic tale, closer to Virgil’s Aeneas than a modern statesman. Like Aeneas, he faced trials that were not obstacles but prerequisites for greatness. His victory, forged through hardship and vindication, offers a glimpse of renewal.
Trump’s love for America has always been his defining trait. His unfinished story offers hope for the rebirth of a nation and the triumph of its people.
