President of the United States (US) Joe Biden has condemned the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, calling it “sick.” He added that he tried to call Trump at the hospital after the shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I have tried to get a hold of Donald. He’s with his doctors. Apparently, he’s doing well. I plan on talking to him shortly, I hope, when I get back to the telephone,” the president said on Saturday, July 13, near his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware vacation home.
“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this,” Biden said, thanking the Secret Service and all the agencies, including state agencies, involved.
Biden, however, did not address the fact that one attendee had died and that the shooter was also killed. “We have more details to come regarding other injuries. I don’t have all the information yet. We’ll make it available to you. I may be able to come back a little later tonight, but we’ll put out a statement if I’m not able to,” he said.
“But the bottom line is that the Trump rally should have been conducted peacefully without any problem. The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just not appropriate,” the president stated, adding that “everyone must condemn it.”
“I’ll keep you informed. And if I am able to speak to Donald, I’ll let you know that as well,” Biden said. “So far, it appears he’s doing well.”
“I’m going back to my phone to speak with the federal agencies to get an updated briefing on any new developments. Thank you very much, and I hope to speak to him tonight and update you if I do,” he concluded.
At least nine shots rang out during the rally. While one rally-goer died and another was seriously injured, the shooter was also killed. Trump is safe following the attack, the Secret Service has confirmed.