President Biden delivered remarks to the nation a little over two hours after former President Donald Trump was seemingly shot at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
“I’ve been thoroughly briefed by all the agencies in the federal government as to the situation based on what we know now. I have tried to get a hold of Donald, he’s with his doctors. Apparently he’s doing well. I plan on talking to them shortly, I hope, when I get back to the telephone,” the president began.
” Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this,” he continued.
“And so I want to thank the Secret Service and all the agencies, including the state agencies that have been engaged in making sure that the people who and we have more detail to come relative to the other injured, other people may be injured in the audience. I don’t have all that detail. We’ll make that available to you. I may be able to come back a little later tonight But we’ll put out a statement if we don’t if I’m not able to give it for it’s not convenient for you all.
But the idea that the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been able to can be conducted peacefully without any problem. But the idea… the idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. Everybody, everybody must condemn it. Everybody. I’ll keep you informed. And if I am able to speak to Donald, I’ll let you know that as well. But so far it appears he’s doing well, number one. Number two, that there’s thoroughly investigating what happened to anyone else in the audience.
I have, we have some reports, but not final reports. And every agency in the federal government, and I’m going back to my phone to speak with the federal agencies that are being put together again to give me an updated briefing. If anything happened, they learned more in the last couple hours. So thank you very much. And I hope I get to speak to them tonight.”
As Biden walked away from the podium, a reporter asked whether he would characterize the incident as an assassination attempt.
“I don’t know enough to I have an opinion but I don’t have any facts, so I want to make sure we have all the facts before I make some comment, any more comments. Thank you,” the president answered before exiting the room.
“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania,” the president wrote in a written press release shortly before getting in front of the camera. “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,” the statement continued.
Just minutes into the former president’s speech, what sounded like gunfire erupted just after 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Secret Service agents immediately dove on the former president, who appeared to be grabbing his ear.
He was then helped to his feet by Secret Service agents before giving a thumbs up to the crowd. The president’s ear appeared to be bleeding, though it is unclear if he has sustained any additional injuries at this time.
The Secret Service issued a statement on the incident shortly after 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time
“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.”
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger reported that at least one bystander was killed, as well as the shooter.
Goldfinger added that the person believed to be dead was “someone in the crowd,” according to a report from WTAE. Identities of those believed killed have not been released at this time.
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