President Joe Biden is speaking out after the shooting at a Trump rally on Saturday in Butler, Pa.
“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania,” Biden said in a statement. “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.”
Biden continued, “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.”
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Speaking to reporters in Delaware, Biden said he had tried to connect with Trump. Trump was receiving treatment, and Biden said he would seek to talk with him later on in the evening.
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“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence — it’s sick, it’s sick,” Biden said. “The bottom line is, the Trump rally is a rally that should have been able to have been conducted peacefully without any problem. The idea – the idea – that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of, it’s not appropriate. Everybody – everybody – must condemn it. Everybody.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also issued a statement condemning the attack.
“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she said. “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.”
After gunshot sounds were heard at the rally, Secret Service agents covered Trump, who appeared to have blood on his face, as they headed to his motorcade.
Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, posted a statement on X/Twitter: “An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
The shooter is dead, Butler County district attorney told the Associated Press, and a rally attendee has been killed at the Trump event in Pennsylvania.
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung added in a separate statement that the former President is “fine” and “is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
UPDATE: The White House confirmed that President Biden spoke to former President Trump tonight. The President also spoke to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy.
“Tonight, the President is returning to Washington DC. Tomorrow morning at the White House, he will receive an updated briefing from homeland security and law enforcement officials.”