US Elections: Biden Condemns Trump’s Rally Shooting, Insists ‘No Place For Violence’

President Joe Biden has condemned the violence that broke out at a rally held for his major opponent in the November election, Donald Trump, in Pennsylvania, describing the unfortunate shooting incident as ‘Sick’

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said in a nationally televised statement, adding that he would try to reach the former President president, who was fired at by a man during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“I’ve been thoroughly briefed by all federal government agencies on the situation based on what we know now. I have tried to get a hold of Donald. He’s with his doctors. He’s doing well. I plan on talking to him shortly, I hope when I get back to the telephone.

“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.

“The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. And everybody, everybody must condemn it.

“Everybody. I’ll keep you informed, and if I can speak to Donald, I’ll let you know that as well. But so far, it appears he’s doing well, No. 1. No. 2, that they’re thoroughly investigating what happened to anyone else in the audience. We have some reports but not final reports.

Expressing gratitude that the former President survived and was successfully evacuated, Biden said he had his own opinion but would wait for more facts to come in first when asked if he would characterize the incident as an assassination attempt.

“The bottom line is that the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been able to conduct peacefully without any problem. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information”, said Biden who was at Rehoboth Beach, Del., where he has a residence when the shooting occurred.

After releasing an initial written statement, he left his residence in his motorcade and headed to a local police department building so he could address the matter on camera.

A White House official told reporters that Biden was briefed on the incident by Kimberly Cheatle, director of the Secret Service; Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary; and Liz Sherwood-Randall, the president’s homeland security adviser.

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.

The president’s statement came after similar expressions by other senior Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, both from New York, and the party leaders of their respective houses. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Republican congressional leaders, and former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama likewise issued comments. Vice President Kamala Harris issued her statement after the president’s remarks.

Reports said a yet-to-be-identified individual opened fire at the rally while Trump was on stage with the former president immediately taking cover and Secret Service agents rushed to his rescue. He was rushed off the stage with blood on the side of his head and his ear.

Trump was just about six minutes into his speech when he reached for the side of his face as popping sounds rang out over the rally. He then crouched down as Secret Service agents rushed the stage and surrounded him. He was quickly escorted into a vehicle, walking off the stage with agents on all sides.

A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement posted to X that “the former President is safe.”

“This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi posted.

Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung said that the former president “thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.”