President Joe Biden and other major political leaders denounced the violence after the incident at former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania Saturday night.
Biden, speaking from Delaware, said “there is no place in America for this kind of violence.”
“It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” he said. “We can’t tolerate it.”
“I tried to contact Donald. He is with his doctors,” Biden said. “I intend to speak to him soon, I hope.”
Biden said it appeared Trump was doing well and would keep the media informed.
He said he would get back on the phone for updates from federal agencies involved in the investigation.
Asked whether the shooting was an assassination attempt, Biden said: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have all the facts.” He added that he wants to know more before commenting.
In a statement released by the White House before Biden’s on-camera comments, Biden said he was “grateful to know he is safe and well. I am praying for him and his family and all those who were at the rally, as we await more information .”
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must come together as a nation to condemn it,” he added.
Trump was removed from the stage at a rally in the town of Butler after shots were fired just minutes into his rally. Photos and videos showed him with blood on the side of his head and ear.
The Butler County district attorney’s office said one spectator at the rally is dead and a second is in critical condition. The shooter is dead, NBC News confirmed.
Trump is expected to survive, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News.
Obama, Bush and other leaders react
Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that “there is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.”
“While we still don’t know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump was not seriously injured and take this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics,” Obama said. “Michelle and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Former President George W. Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush were “grateful that President Trump is safe after the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their quick response.” .
Former President Bill Clinton shared a similar message Saturday night, saying there is no place for political violence in America, and expressed regret.
“Hillary and I are grateful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for everyone affected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the quick action of the U.S. Secret Service,” he said. he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that he was praying for the former president.
“This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and must be unanimously and forcefully condemned,” he said. Johnson said in a subsequent post on X.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., former speaker of the House, said on X: “I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.” (Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was violently assaulted by a hammer-wielding assailant in their San Francisco home in 2022.)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on X that “all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be okay after a despicable attack on a peaceful protest.”
“Violence has no place in our politics,” McConnell said. “We appreciate the quick work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.”
McConnell’s Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that he was “horrified” by the incident and “relieved” that Trump was “safe.”
“Political violence has no place in our country,” he added.
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife, Karen, were praying for Trump and “urge all Americans to join us.”
The violence was condemned by several other prominent Republican and Democratic political figures, including Transport secretary Pete Buttigieg; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; It is Senate Republican Whip John Thune, RD
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a first-term Democrat, denounced the violence and said law enforcement officials were on the scene and working with federal and local partners.
“Violence directed at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,” Shapiro said on X. “It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”
This article was originally published in NBCNews. with
