Reactions from government leaders poured in shortly after a shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday afternoon, with Democrats and Republicans alike denouncing the violence.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” President Biden said in remarks from the Rehoboth Beach, Del., police department. “It’s sick. … It cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee to face Trump in November’s general election, said he did not have all the details on others in the audience who might have been injured. When asked whether he thought the shooting was an assassination attempt, Biden said, “I have an opinion, but I don’t have all the facts.”
Trump’s rally “should have been able to be conducted peacefully without any problem,” said Biden, who is spending the weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach.
He said he was returning to his phone to get an updated briefing from federal agencies.
“I hope I get to speak to him tonight,” Biden said as he ended his remarks.
Trump posted to his Truth Social network that he was shot in his upper right ear, offering his first account of the shooting since Secret Service agents escorted him away from the campaign event.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he wrote.
Trump offered his thanks to law enforcement officers for “their rapid response on the shooting.” He also extended his condolences to the families of a person who was shot and killed and another who was injured. He said the identity of the shooter, who was killed, is not known. The Secret Service said a second rallygoer was also wounded.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” he wrote.
On social media, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said he was sending his “thoughts and prayers” to Trump.
“I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable,” he posted on X.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also thanked law enforcement and offered his prayers.
“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 tweeted.
Vice President Harris said she was “relieved that he is not seriously injured.”
“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she posted on X. “… We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”
A spokesperson for Biden’s campaign, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview plans, said the team was “working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the shooting “despicable.”
“Tonight, all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally,” he tweeted. “We appreciate the swift work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was “relieved” that Trump was declared safe.
“I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe,” Schumer posted on X. “Political violence has no place in our country.”
Three of Trump’s potential choices for vice president lauded the presumptive Republican nominee.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) said on X that he was praying for Trump, his family and those in attendance at the rally. He also shared a photo of a bloodied Trump raising his fist after the shooting.
“We all know President Trump is stronger than his enemies,” Burgum said. “Today he showed it.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) posted that he was praying for Trump and rally attendees. He shared the same photo, adding that “God protected President Trump.”
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) criticized the Biden campaign for portraying Trump as an authoritarian who “must be stopped at all costs.”
“That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination,” Vance said on X.
Former presidents, all of whom are given Secret Service protection for life, lauded the agents’ response.
George W. Bush, a Republican, called the shooting “cowardly.”
“Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life,” he said on X.
Bill Clinton, whose wife Hillary Clinton ran against Trump in 2016, said they were “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.”
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Kelsey Baker and Ben Brasch contributed to this report.
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