“There is no place for this kind of violence in America,” Biden said in Washington on Saturday (local time). “We must stand together as a nation to condemn this.”
US President Biden Regarding Trump, he said he was “grateful to hear that he is safe and doing well.” “I am praying for him and his family and all those who were at the rally as we await further information.”
- ZIB Special: Reactions to the attack
US Vice President Kamala Harris warned of an escalation of violence following the attack. “We must all condemn this heinous act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to further violence,” the Democrat said on X.
Several high-ranking representatives of both parties condemned the attack, including former President Barack Obama and the Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. The Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnsonwrote on Platform X that he was praying for Trump. The Democratic minority leader of the House chamber, Hakeem Jeffriesexpressed similar views on X. “America is a democracy,” he wrote. “Political violence in any form is never acceptable.”
The Democratic majority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumertold X that he was shocked by the incident and relieved that Trump was OK. “Political violence has no place in our country.”
International reactions
There were also strong reactions internationally. “I am shocked by the news of the attack on President Trump,” wrote the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Joseph Borrellon Sunday night on X. “Once once more we are witnessing unacceptable acts of violence once morest politicians.”
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X: “I am deeply shocked by the shooting during former President Trump’s campaign rally.” She wished Trump a speedy recovery and expressed her condolences to the family of the innocent victim. “Political violence has no place in a democracy,” emphasized the German EU politician.
The French President Emmanuel Macron described the alleged assassination as a “tragedy for our democracies.” His thoughts are with US presidential candidate Donald Trump, Macron said on Platform X. He wished him a speedy recovery. “France shares the shock and outrage of the American people.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni called for more dialogue. Her solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery went to Trump – “in the hope that dialogue and responsibility can prevail over hatred and violence in the coming months of the election campaign,” Meloni wrote on X on Sunday night.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his solidarity with the former US president. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Donald Trump in these dark hours,” Orban wrote on X. The two right-wing populists Orban and Trump maintain a very friendly relationship. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was shocked. “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump,” Netanyahu posted on X regarding himself and his wife. “We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned political violence of any kind. “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and we send our best wishes to him and his family,” Starmer, who has only been in office since the beginning of July, said on Platform X. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack,” Starmer wrote.
His foreign minister made similar comments David Lammy: “As we follow the shocking developments in Pennsylvania, our thoughts and best wishes are with President Trump – as well as with all the victims and their families.”
“It cannot be emphasized enough: political violence is never acceptable.” His thoughts are with the former US president, the participants of the event and all Americans, said Canada’s head of government. Justin Trudeau on X.
“The attack on former President Donald Trump must be firmly rejected by all defenders of democracy and dialogue in politics,” said Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on X. “What we saw today is unacceptable.”
The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj said he was appalled by the alleged assassination attempt. “Such violence is unjustifiable and has no place anywhere in the world. Violence should never prevail,” he wrote on X. He was relieved that Trump was OK. “I hope that America emerges stronger from this.” Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the US’s military support for Ukraine in the war once morest Russia.
Reactions in Austria
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen: “Violence in politics is absolutely unacceptable. The strengths of our liberal democracy – respect, equality and pluralism – must not be undermined by hatred and violence. My condolences go out to the family of the bystander who was killed. I wish Donald Trump a speedy recovery.”
“I am appalled by the attempted murder (…),” wrote Federal Chancellor Karl NehammerThe Chancellor wished Trump “a speedy and full recovery. Political violence has no place in our society!” added the ÖVP politician.
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Federal Spokesperson for the Greens: “Any form of violence in politics must be rejected in the strongest possible terms, regardless of who it is directed once morest. A gun attack once morest the US Republican presidential candidate in the middle of the election campaign is a heinous crime. This is a deliberate attempt to influence one of the most important debates in democracy – the election campaign – in a terrorist manner.”
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler: “The increasing attacks on politicians are alarming. Democracy is a cornerstone of our coexistence – but it cannot be taken for granted. When it is threatened, we must stand together. Politics is a competition of ideas and must never lead to violence.”
FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl: “I condemn this insane act in the strongest possible terms. I hope that all the circumstances of this assassination will be clarified quickly and completely. Anyone who cares regarding democracy will see it the same way. All the best to Donald Trump, his family and the people of the USA. May reason and prudence guide the fate of all those involved in these difficult times.”
NEOS party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger: “Violence has no place in political debates in democracies. The increasing polarization in political debates is a major concern. A disarmament of words is urgently needed.”
President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP): “The shooting attack on the American presidential candidate Donald Trump must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Fighting different ideologies with brute force is unacceptable. Democracy thrives on discourse and not on violence. Every single violent attack is therefore also an attack on democracy. I wish Donald Trump a speedy and full recovery.”
Heated atmosphere for years
The political mood in the USA has been heated for years. At the beginning of the year, the US Department of Justice complained of a “deeply disturbing increase in threats” once morest public officials and democratic institutions in the country. The presidential election on November 5th is the first since the dramatic upheavals surrounding the 2020 election, which ended in an unprecedented outbreak of violence. At the time, Trump did not accept his election defeat to Biden and incited his supporters for months with allegations of election fraud. Trump supporters finally violently stormed the US Capitol, the American parliament and the heart of US democracy, on January 6th, 2021. Several people were killed in the unprecedented attack.
Violence once morest high-ranking politicians has occurred time and once more in the USA, including once morest presidents. In 1865, US President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the box of a theater in the US capital Washington while watching a comedy. James Garfield was killed in 1881 and William McKinley in 1901. US President John F. Kennedy was shot in an assassination attempt on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. When President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington in 1981, a bodyguard threw himself over him to protect him.
