President Joe Biden and other major political leaders decried violence after the incident at former President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night.
Biden, speaking from Delaware, said there was “no place in America for this kind of violence.”
“It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” he said. “We cannot condone this.”
“I tried to get ahold of Donald. He’s with his doctors,” Biden said. “I plan on talking to him, shortly, I hope.”
Biden said that it appeared Trump was doing well and that he would keep the news media informed.
He said he would be going back to his phone to get any updates from the federal agencies involved in the investigation.
Asked whether the shooting was an assassination attempt, Biden said: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have all the facts.” He added he wants to learn more before commenting.
In a statement the White House released before Biden’s on-camera remarks, Biden said he was “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, as we await further information.”
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” he added.
Trump was rushed off the stage at a rally in the city of Butler after shots were fired just minutes into his speech. Photos and videos showed him with blood on the side of his head and his ear.
The Butler County district attorney’s office said a spectator at the rally is dead and a second is in serious condition. The shooter is dead, NBC News has confirmed.
Trump is expected to survive, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News.
Obama, Bush and other leaders react
Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that “there is 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,” Obama said. “Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”
Former President George W. Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush were “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.”
Former President Bill Clinton shared a similar message Saturday night, saying there is no place for political violence in America, and he expressed sorrow.
“Hillary and I are thankful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those affected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the swift action of the U.S. Secret Service,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that he was praying for the former president.
“This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned,” Johnson said in a subsequent post on X.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former House speaker, said on X: “I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.” (Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was violently assaulted by a hammer-wielding assailant in his San Francisco home in 2022.)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on X that “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,” McConnell said. “We appreciate the swift work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement.”
McConnell’s Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that he was “horrified” by the incident and “relieved” that Trump was “safe.”
“Political violence has no place in our country,” he added.
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife, Karen, were praying for Trump and “urge every American to join us.”
The violence was condemned by various other high-profile Republican and Democratic political figures, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Senate Republican Whip John Thune, R-S.D.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a first-term Democrat, denounced the violence and said law enforcement officials were at the scene and working with federal and local partners.
“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,” Shapiro said on X. “It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”
