The shooting of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a rally Saturday drew swift condemnation from U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
“This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
Within moments of Trump being rushed off stage to safety in Butler, Pennsylvania, many congressional Republicans posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, an Associated Press photo of the former president visibly bloodied but still standing, raising his fist in the air as he was surrounded by his Secret Service detail.
One of the front-runners to become Trump’s choice for vice president, Republican Senator Marco Rubio posted the AP photo to X, writing “God protected President Trump.”
Republican Senator Ted Cruz also posted the photo to X, calling Trump’s response “Extraordinary. God bless President Trump.”
Senate and House Democratic leadership swiftly condemned political violence.
“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,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X, “America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”
The former president was addressing a crowd of supporters ahead of the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week. Trump is set to officially become his party’s nominee at the convention, where security has been extremely tight.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch 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.”
Democratic Representative Jared Huffman, who launched a group in opposition to Project 2025, a set of conservative policy proposals for a second Trump administration, wrote on X, “All of us, regardless of our politics, must condemn and work to end the scourge of political violence. It is NEVER justified. NEVER OK.”
The shooter and one person attending the rally were reported dead, while another attendee is reportedly in critical condition.
