(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden responded to an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump Saturday evening shortly after Trump was grazed by a gunshot in his right ear at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Biden condemned the violence but hesitated to call it an assassination attempt until, as he said, he has more facts.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden told gathered reporters in televised remarks from Delaware. “It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Video of the incident shows Trump was immediately surrounded by Secret Service agents after what sounded like gunshots, at least one of which grazed Trump’s right ear. The shooter took fire at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and was reportedly killed.
“The former president is safe,” the Secret Service said in a statement, as The Center Square previously reported.
Biden released a statement shortly after the shooting:
I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
I’m 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.
Trump is being examined at a local hospital but is fine, his campaign said.
Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement after the shooting as well.
“I have been briefed on the shooting at former President Trump’s event in Pennsylvania,” Harris said. “Doug and I are 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. We are grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their immediate action. Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”
Other leaders and national figures spoke out as well, condemning the violence and expressing support and prayers for Trump.
“Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division, renounce all violence, and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leading third party candidate in the presidential race, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A photo of Trump, blood on his face, raising his fist in the air, has already gone viral. The effect on this year’s election remains unclear, but so far supporters have rallied to Trump.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” billionaire Elon Musk wrote on X.
