President Biden addressed the nation on Sunday, a day after a 20-year-old man attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Biden called for all sides to "lower the temperature in our politics," saying that the incident "calls on all of us to take a step back and take stock of where we are."
President Biden delivered a solemn address to the nation on Sunday, condemning the assassination attempt on former President Trump and calling for unity and the lowering of political temperatures.
"My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics," Biden said from the Oval Office. "Do remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies. We’re neighbors, we’re friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together."
Biden Urges Unity After Assassination Attempt on Trump, Calls for Lowering Political Temperature
Biden said the attempted assassination of Trump "calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are." He expressed gratitude that Trump was recovering well and offered condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, who was killed shielding his wife and daughters from the bullets.
The president linked the Trump shooting to other recent incidents of political violence, including the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, the attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, and the attempted plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.
Biden Urges Unity After Assassination Attempt on Trump, Calls for Lowering Political Temperature
"There is no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence, ever, period. No exceptions," Biden declared.
Biden emphasized that disagreement is inherent in American democracy but that incidents like the shooting cannot be normalized. "Politics must never be a literal battlefield," he stressed, "God forbid – a killing field."
Biden Urges Unity After Assassination Attempt on Trump, Calls for Lowering Political Temperature
The former president was struck by bullets fired from an elevated position during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The bullet pierced his right ear, and he was swiftly escorted from the stage by Secret Service agents.
The would-be assassin, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper after opening fire. But one spectator, Comperatore, was killed, and two others were critically injured.
Biden Urges Unity After Assassination Attempt on Trump, Calls for Lowering Political Temperature
"Tonight I want to speak to what we do know: A former president was shot. An American citizen killed simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing," Biden said. "We cannot, we must not, go down this road in America."
Biden asserted that politics should be a "peaceful debate to pursue justice" and that the country stands for "decency and grace." He urged Americans to "get out of our silos" and resolve their differences at the ballot box.
Biden Urges Unity After Assassination Attempt on Trump, Calls for Lowering Political Temperature
"Let's remember here in America, our unity is the most elusive of all goals right now," he said. "Nothing is more important for us now than standing together. We can do this."
Biden reminded Americans to "never lose sight of who we are" and vowed to ensure Trump's continued safety and review the security measures at the upcoming Republican National Convention.
Biden Urges Unity After Assassination Attempt on Trump, Calls for Lowering Political Temperature
The Biden campaign had earlier announced a pause in campaign communications and the removal of anti-Trump ads following the assassination attempt. The campaign was in the midst of a $50 million advertising campaign targeting key battleground states.
