President Joe Biden on Sunday condemned political violence and called for national unity after an assassination attempt on his rival and presidential challenger, former President Donald Trump.
Biden also urged Americans to not jump to conclusions as law enforcement investigates the Saturday shooting at a rally in the swing state of Pennsylvania.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence – or any violence for that matter,” Biden said, flanked by his vice president and attorney general. “An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for, as a nation, everything. It’s not who we are as a nation, it’s not American, and we cannot allow this to happen.
“Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is (more) important than that right now: unity. We’ll debate and will disagree – that’s not going to change. But we’re going to not lose sight of the fact of who we are as Americans,” the president said.
He added that Trump is “doing well and recovering” and that he had taken steps to direct the Secret Service to provide Trump with “every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety.”
Biden said that he instructed the elite law enforcement agency to review all security measures – “all security measures,” he repeated for emphasis – as Republicans, including Trump, prepare to arrive Monday in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. There, Trump is expected to be officially named as the party’s presidential nominee.
President Biden added that although the shooter has been identified, Americans should not rush to form conclusions until the investigation is complete.
“I urge everyone – everyone – please don’t make assumptions about his motive or his affiliations,” Biden said.
And finally, he said he would address the nation late Sunday from the Oval Office – widely seen as the most sober and consequential venue for presidential addresses.
Biden had abruptly returned to Washington early Sunday to receive briefings on the event and its aftermath. He and Vice President Kamala Harris spent much of the morning in the White House Situation Room with homeland security and law enforcement officials, according to a White House photo.
Also Sunday, the White House announced that Biden would not travel Monday to Texas, as planned, for a campaign event. The campaign had said Saturday that they were working to temporarily suspend campaign messaging and take down ads.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into what they are describing as an assassination attempt. Trump was wounded in the ear Saturday evening at a rally in Pennsylvania after a gunman aimed at him. His campaign said he was “fine” and he appeared later that evening, walking off his plane in New Jersey.
An attendee at the rally was killed, as was the gunman, and two other attendees were wounded, law enforcement said.
On Sunday, former first lady Melania Trump issued a plea for Americans to “ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.”
Also Sunday, Devin Nunes, a Republican former congressman who is the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., called for a thorough investigation.
“The situation demands a fast, thorough federal investigation to determine all the circumstances of this cowardly attack and to identify if any additional persons were involved. I also call for the federal government to provide any security resources requested by President Trump to guarantee his safety. America will overcome this despicable shooting and together, our nation will endure.”
