However, following a tragic event in El Paso, Texas where a white supremacist gunman killed 22 people, the political landscape is now heading towards a more extensive and potentially turbulent confrontation with racist extremism. The gun lobby, along with social media platforms like 8chan, are under scrutiny for promoting toxic ideologies that have had deadly real-life consequences. President Donald Trump is facing heightened criticism for his rhetoric, which has been linked to the El Paso shooter's anti-immigrant manifesto. Trump's usual tactics of deflecting criticism have been ineffective, with calls for accountability and stricter gun regulations growing louder from his political opponents and critics. No moment encapsulated the shift from the gun violence discussion to a focus on extremism better than a statement made by former President Barack Obama on Monday afternoon. Obama, who has rarely commented on public events since leaving office, called for gun control and a strong national rejection of racism and those who promote it. He urged the rejection of leaders who use language that promotes fear, hatred, or normalizes racist beliefs. Obama did not specifically mention Trump or other leaders, but Democratic presidential candidates for 2020 were quick to blame Trump for enabling extremists. Joe Biden, a top Democratic contender, accused Trump of promoting white supremacy and dividing the country. Other political leaders also expressed their distress and alarm at the current situation. Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City who has been a major supporter of gun control, wrote in a column that the recent acts of violence should lead to a change in the political conversation around guns. He criticized Trump's response as being evasive. Democratic presidential candidates united in criticizing Trump, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren accusing him of promoting dangerous ideologies and Sen. Cory Booker calling his speech ineffective. Booker plans to address gun violence in a speech at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, where a mass shooting took place in 2015. The issue of gun violence and racism is becoming important in elections beyond the presidential race, with candidates like Mike Johnston in Colorado blaming Trump for creating a divisive culture. Candidates in 2020 will have to take a clear stance on these issues. In an interview, Johnston stated that people must choose between supporting white nationalists with AR-15s or standing with the millions of Americans who fear them. Trump mentioned he was willing to consider bipartisan solutions to address gun violence, attributing the spread of harmful ideologies to the internet and social media. While he did not outline specific actions his administration would take, Trump emphasized his backing of the death penalty and seemed doubtful that gun restrictions would be effective, asserting that mental illness and hatred, not guns, are the root causes of violence. Trump's campaign criticized Democrats for politicizing a moment of national mourning and reiterated the president's condemnation of racism and white supremacy. They also noted that no one blamed Bernie Sanders when one of his supporters attacked Republican lawmakers in 2017. He stated that the blame for such terrible attacks ultimately rests with those who carry them out. Despite Trump and his supporters insisting he is not responsible for the increase in extremist violence, many feel he has not distanced himself enough from white supremacists. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre in March revealed that a majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe Trump has not done enough to separate himself from white nationalist groups. This sentiment was shared by about a quarter of Republicans or those who support Trump. It is not just liberals who believe that the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton are a crisis for the nation and a crucial test for Trump. The conservative magazine National Review published an editorial urging Americans and their government to combat the resurgent ideology of white supremacy, similar to how they have tackled Islamic terrorism. The magazine called on Trump to condemn these actions clearly and consistently. Former Republican governor of Oklahoma, Frank Keating, who led his state through the 1995 bombing by domestic terrorists, stated in an interview that the current situation calls for both stricter gun control measures and a new approach from the White House. He advised Trump to carefully select his words in order to avoid spreading fear or inciting anger. Keating emphasized the importance of understanding the impact of his language, stating that the president should act as a moral leader in addition to a government leader. It remains uncertain if the El Paso shooting could have a significant impact on national politics, similar to the Oklahoma City bombing in the 1990s. President Clinton's response to the bombing, where he condemned extreme right voices in America, helped boost his image as a strong leader after a rocky start to his presidency. Trump has not shown any interest in being a moral leader or reflecting on his use of divisive politics. Following the Charlottesville incident in 2017, where a young woman died during a white supremacist march, Trump controversially stated that there were "very fine people on both sides." Recently, he has continued to attack prominent members of racial minority groups without remorse. Despite little public criticism from Republican lawmakers after the El Paso and Dayton shootings, there are private concerns within the party about the impact of his behavior on the 2020 elections. During the midterm elections last year, Trump focused on illegal immigration in his campaign, leading to a significant loss for his party in various cities and suburbs. The final weeks of the 2018 elections were marked by two traumatic events that may have heightened voters' concerns about the president's violent rhetoric and appeals to racism: a failed bombing attempt by a Trump supporter targeting the president's critics, and a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh carried out by a gunman who spoke against immigrant "invaders." Despite Trump's initial lamentation over the Pittsburgh massacre, he quickly returned to his divisive message on the campaign trail. His base, largely rural and white, remained steadfast in their support of him. The Democratic presidential race, on the other hand, saw a temporary sense of unity following the weekend of violence, highlighting how the 2020 campaign will likely be shaped in response to Trump's actions. While Democrats may have disagreements, they understand the political reality they are facing. In the morning after his party's consecutive debates, Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state confidently told a reporter in Detroit that the Democratic party would easily come together for the 2020 election. He compared their unity to a powerful force like a black hole, attributing it to the presence of a white nationalist in the White House.