Washington • Leaders across the United States and the world condemned the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. President Joe Biden, a wide array of prominent Democratic figures and other political opponents of the former president were among those who quickly condemned the violence, called for national unity and prayed for Trump’s safety.
Biden, who was being briefed by national security officials in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, issued a written statement later in the evening.
“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania,” Biden said in the statement. “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally.”
He continued: “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
The top Republicans in Congress — Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana — and their Democratic counterparts — Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York — also quickly published statements denouncing the shooting.
“My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump,” Jeffries said, adding, “America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”
McConnell said: “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.”
Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 Republican in the House, said in a statement that he was “praying for President Donald Trump, adding, “There is never any place for political violence.” Scalise was shot and gravely wounded in 2017 at a practice of the Republican congressional baseball team.
Scores of other Republican and Democratic officials condemned the shooting and emphasized that political violence had no place in American democracy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate whose father was murdered during his presidential campaign, also condemned the attack in a statement.
“Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division, renounce all violence and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family,” he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel offered prayers for Trump in what was the early morning in Israel, saying he was “shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain also said in a statement that he was “appalled” by the shooting, adding, “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies, and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., a close ally of Biden and his campaign, said in a statement: “Violence has no place in our democracy. My thoughts are with President Trump and everyone impacted at the rally today.”
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., wrote on social media that he had offered support to the state police. “Political violence is never acceptable and I am hoping former president Trump & all attendees are safe.”
Liz Cheney, a vocal Republican critic of Trump — who the former president has said should be jailed — said in a statement on social media that people should “pray for the former president and all those injured,” adding that “violence of any kind has no place in American politics.”
Two former presidents, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, also denounced the attack in statements. Clinton said he and his wife, Hillary Clinton, were “heartbroken for all those affected by the attack.” Obama called on Americans to “use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”
