I asked a psychiatrist why Americans are becoming ‘numb’ to violence

The latest instance of violence in US politics has left Americans feeling numb (Picture: Getty/Reuters/AP/Metro)

When I heard there had been another shooting near Donald Trump this weekend, I didn’t feel horror – in fact, I barely felt anything. And I’m not the only one.

Since Trump retook office in January 2025, America has been plagued by instances of political violence and extremist actions.

A 1960s activist once said, ‘Violence is as American as cherry pie.’

He has a point. The political violence Americans like myself have witnessed in the past few years isn’t new. It’s the cherry on top of layers of divisive elections, the rise of social media and t...