President Joe Biden and other major political leaders have since condemned the violence An incident during former President Donald Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania on saturday night.
Speaking from Delaware, Biden said “this kind of violence has no place in America.”
“He is sick. This is sick. This is one of the reasons why we should unite the country.” “We cannot accept that.”
“I tried to catch Donald. He is with his doctors,” Biden said. “I plan to talk to him soon, I hope.”
Biden said Trump was doing well and would keep the news media informed.
He said he would return to his phone for any updates from federal agencies involved in the investigation.
He asked if there was a shoot was an assassination attempt, Biden said: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have all the facts.” He added that he wanted to learn more before commenting.
In a statement released by the White House ahead of Biden’s on-camera remarks, Biden said he was “grateful to hear that he is safe and doing well. I am praying for him, his family and everyone at the rally. We await further information.”
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. This kind of violence has no place in America. We must unite as a nation to condemn it,” he added.
Trump was taken off the stage at a rally in Butler after shots were fired minutes before his rally. Photos and videos show blood on the side of his head and in his ear.
The Butler County District Attorney’s Office said one spectator died at the rally and the second was in critical condition. NBC News confirmed that the shooter was dead.
Trump is expected to survive, two senior law enforcement officials who briefed NBC News on the matter.
Obama, Bush and other leaders react
Former President Barack Obama said in his statement that “there is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.”
“While we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump was not seriously injured and use this moment to commit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics,” Obama said. “Michelle and I wish her a speedy recovery.”
Former President George W. Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush were “grateful that President Trump is alive after the cowardly attack on his life. And we applaud the men and women of the Secret Service for their swift response.”
Former President Bill Clinton shared a similar message on Saturday night, saying there is no place for political violence in America and expressing his sadness.
“Hillary and I are grateful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those affected by the attack at a rally in Pennsylvania today, and grateful for the swift action of the US Secret Service.” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he was praying for the former president in X.
“This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful protest rally has no place in this country and must be unanimously and vehemently condemned.” Johnson said in a later post on X.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. X said: “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 attacked with a hammer in his San Francisco home in 2022.)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., X said “All Americans are grateful that President Trump is looking good after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally.”
“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 the statement that he was “horrified” by the incident and “relieved” that Trump was “safe.”
“There is no place for political violence in our country,” he added.
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife, Karen, are praying for Trump and “urge every American to join us.”
The violence involved various other high-profile Republican and Democratic political figures, including Transportation the secretary Pete Buttigieg; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Senate Republican Whip John Thune, RS.D.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a first-term Democrat, condemned the violence and said law enforcement was on the scene and working with federal and local partners.
“Violence against any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable” Shapiro said in X. “This has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”