‘We must unite as one nation to condemn it’: Biden leads condemnation after Trump wounded at rally

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden led the condemnation after his election rival Donald Trump was wounded in a shooting incident at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13 that also reportedly killed at least one bystander.

Political leaders on both sides of the aisle slammed the violence minutes after the Republican candidate

was rushed off stage by the Secret Service,

blood running down his face.

“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Mr Biden said in a nationally televised statement at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

Asked if he would characterise the incident as an assassination attempt, he said he had his own opinion but would wait for more facts to come in first.

“The bottom line is that the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been able to conduct peacefully without any problem,” Mr Biden added. “But the idea, the idea, that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate. Everybody, everybody must condemn it, everybody.”

A White House official later said that Mr Biden had spoken to Trump and also Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy.

A Biden campaign official said the campaign was pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down its television advertising as quickly as possible in deference to the seriousness of the moment.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, he had released a written statement that said that he was “grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well” before adding: “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

Vice-President Kamala Harris said on X: “We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting.”

Former president Barack Obama echoed Mr Biden’s words in a statement on X, saying there was “absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy”.

“Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, 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,” the Democrat said.

Former president George W. Bush condemned the “cowardly” attack.

“Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response,” he said in a statement.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, wrote on X: “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former president Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country.”

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell also wrote on X: “Tonight, all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on X: “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.” Her

husband was attacked in a home invasion in 2022.

“I thank God that former president Trump is safe. As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former president’s rally today are unharmed,” she continued.

The Republican governor of Texas, Mr Greg Abbott, posted on X: “Had it been less than a half inch to the right, he would not have survived.”

Some of Trump’s Republican allies said they believed the attack was politically motivated.

“For weeks, Democrat leaders have been fuelling ludicrous hysteria that Donald Trump winning re-election would be the end of democracy in America,” said US Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, who survived a politically motivated shooting in 2017.

“Clearly, we’ve seen far-left lunatics act on violent rhetoric in the past. This incendiary rhetoric must stop.”

Hardline Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said: “Democrats wanted this to happen. They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen.”

Possible Trump vice presidential pick J. D. Vance said Mr Biden’s “rhetoric” had “led directly” to the Trump attack.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk said that he “fully” endorses Trump after the rally violence.

“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Mr Musk wrote on X, as he shared a video of Trump pumping his fist while being escorted away by Secret Service officials.

Mr Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive of Microsoft, said: “There is simply no place for any type of violence in our society. Sending my best wishes to President Trump for a speedy recovery and to all those impacted by today’s horrific event.”

‘I love you, Dad’

Trump’s shocked children also took to social media.

“This is the fighter America needs!” son Eric Trump wrote above a photo of his father with blood running down his cheek, his fist in the air and an American flag waving in the background as the Secret Service rushed him from the stage.

Donald Trump Jr posted the same photo, writing on X: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”

“I love you Dad, today and always,” daughter Ivanka posted on X, thanking supporters as well as the Secret Service for their “quick and decisive actions today”.

“I continue to pray for our country,” she said. REUTERS, AFP, NYTIMES