WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Sunday said that no motive was yet known for the assassination attempt on his predecessor and election rival Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and he called on people not to make assumptions.
“We don’t yet have any information about the motive of the shooter. We know who he is. I urge everyone, please don’t make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations,” Biden said, adding he would address the nation from the White House later in the day.
Biden urged Americans to unite following an assassination attempt against his predecessor and election rival Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are,” Biden said in televised remarks from the White House. He said that he had a “short but good” conversation with Donald Trump in the wake of the Saturday shooting.
The White House also announced the postponement of Biden’s scheduled trip to Texas, originally planned for Monday, citing the need to address the aftermath of the shooting that shook the nation.
Donald Trump, in his first public statement since the attempt on his life, called for national unity and resilience in the face of adversity. Speaking via his Truth Social network, Trump said, “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United,” and emphasized that “Evil” should not prevail.
The attack unfolded during Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot in the ear. The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service officers at the scene. Tragically, one spectator lost their life, and two others sustained critical injuries.
Melania Trump condemned the shooter as a “monster” who sought to silence her husband’s voice of “laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration.”
Security concerns have been raised following the incident, with scrutiny over how an armed assailant managed to approach Trump despite a significant Secret Service presence. Investigators found explosive materials in the shooter’s nearby vehicle.
Authorities are probing Crooks’ motive, while his father expressed bewilderment over the events, stating he was trying to comprehend what happened.
The shooting has prompted reactions from across the political spectrum, with Biden receiving briefings from top security officials, including the FBI and Secret Service heads, at the White House. Questions about the shooter’s background and online activities on platforms like Discord are also being investigated.
The incident has reverberated globally, drawing condemnation from world leaders and renewing discussions about political discourse and security in the United States.
The attempt on Trump’s life has injected further volatility into an already contentious US presidential race, underscoring deep divisions and raising urgent questions about security protocols at political events.
Trump’s family has begun sharing images of his defiant response immediately after the shooting, portraying him as resilient in the face of danger.
Political analysts and leaders worldwide have expressed solidarity and condemned the violence, with the Kremlin emphasizing the importance of non-violence in politics and the Vatican denouncing the attack as an affront to democracy.
The United States has a history marked by political violence, including the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
