US president Joe Biden condemned the assassination attempt against Republican rival Donald Trump on Sunday, urged Americans to come together in unity and ordered a review of security at the rally where Mr Trump was wounded.
Mr Biden, who has been locked in a bitter campaign battle with Mr Trump ahead of the November 5th election, said he would address the American people on Sunday night on the need for unity.
“Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now – unity. We’ll debate and we’ll disagree. That’s not going to change. But we’re not going to lose sight of who we are as Americans,” he said.
Mr Biden said he had a short but good conversation with Mr Trump on Sunday night and that he is “sincerely grateful that he is doing well and recovering”.
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He said he had ordered a review of security amid questions about how the shooter was able to get into a position to open fire at Trump.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter. An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for ... as a nation – everything,” he said.
A man fired “multiple shots” toward the stage on Saturday at about 6.15pm, killing one spectator and critically injuring two others. The US secret service said it killed the gunman.
Mr Trump was rushed off the stage, blood visible around the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital, and the secret service said he was “safe”.
Mr Trump said people must remain “defiant in the face of wickedness” after he survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally.
Writing on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Mr Trump thanked wellwishers and said “it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening”.
His wife, former US first lady Melania Trump, said: “A monster who recognised my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration.
“The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine.”
Democratic US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said on Saturday he was “horrified” by the Trump rally shooting, expressed his relief that Mr Trump is safe and added that political violence “has no place in our country”.
Republican house speaker Mike Johnson said the “horrific act of political violence” had no place in the US “and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned”, and Republican senate minority leader Mitch McConnell echoed those sentiments.
However, Republican senator JD Vance, a possible Trump running mate, focused on the Democrats. “Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that president Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to president Trump’s attempted assassination.”
Former Democratic US house speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know first-hand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”
There was also condemnation of the attack from former US presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama, with the latter saying: “We should all be relieved that former president Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”
China has expressed concern about the shooting, Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. “President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to former president Trump,” the statement said.
French president Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts were with Mr Trump and wished him a speedy recovery, adding the shooting marked a “tragedy for our democracies”.
Elsewhere, British prime minister Keir Starmer sent best wishes in a post on X and condemned political violence; Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said on X he was “appalled by the shocking scenes”; and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned by the attack on my friend”.
Speaking on the BBC NI’s Sunday Politics programme, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the shooting was “truly shocking”.
Mr Harris told the programme he was relieved Mr Trump was secure and well, he sent his best wishes to the former president, and said that his thoughts were with those injured, and particularly, the innocent spectator who was killed.
“Political violence must always be condemned, always be called out” Mr Harris said. “It is quite alarming the rise that we are seeing in political violence across the world. It’s only weeks since my Slovakian counterpart had an attempt on his life as well.”
He said one “glimmer of hope” was the fact that Mr Biden and Mr Trump spoke in the aftermath of the shooting. “It’s so important that happened, it’s so important political violence is condemned,” he said, describing it as a “horrific, heinous, criminal act”.
Asked if the incident could further toxify the presidential race, Mr Harris said the situation needed real leadership in the United States, Europe and in Ireland. “We must dial down the rhetoric when it comes to demonising political opponents,” saying engagement and robust debate must happen without dehumanising people.
The leaders of New Zealand, Singapore, Brazil, Thailand and Taiwan were among other world leaders who condemned the attack on Mr Trump and wished the former president well.
Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, posted on X to acknowledge the “love and prayers” for her father and for the other victims of the “senseless violence”. “I continue to pray for our country. I love you Dad, today and always,” she wrote.
Mr Trump’s son Donald Trump jnr posted on X an image of his father being escorted away from the rally in Pennsylvania with his fist in the air and blood streaked across his face. “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America,” Mr Trump jnr wrote.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Mr Trump “showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight”, while Apple chief executive Tim Cook said he prayed for Mr Trump’s rapid recovery. – Agencies