Rivals Joe Biden and Donald Trump called for unity on Sunday after an assassination attempt on the Republican candidate, which the FBI said involved a shooter armed with a legally-purchased semi-automatic rifle.
The attack has heightened tensions in the already divided nation as the presidential election approaches. It is being investigated as a potential act of domestic terrorism and a significant security breach.
President Biden announced that he would address the nation from the Oval Office later in the day, a rare move reserved for moments of grave crisis, after his 78-year-old predecessor was injured at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now,” Biden stated in brief remarks from the White House, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and his homeland security chief.
The 81-year-old Democrat revealed he had a “short but good conversation” on Saturday with Trump, his frequent political adversary.
Biden indicated that the shooter’s motives remain unknown and cautioned against making assumptions about his affiliations.
A day after being swiftly removed from the stage by Secret Service agents with blood on his face, Trump echoed Biden’s call for unity.
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social network, urging Americans not to let “Evil win.”
Trump attributed his survival to divine intervention, stating that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening” and assured he would “FEAR NOT.”
Melania Trump referred to the shooter as a “monster.”
Suspected Explosives
Secret Service snipers neutralized the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, after he fired multiple shots from a nearby rooftop. A bystander was killed and two spectators critically injured in one of the most severe acts of US political violence in decades.
The FBI confirmed Crooks acted alone and had no known ideology.
“We located the weapon at the scene, immediately adjacent to the shooter,” said Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office. “We searched the shooter’s car, and we’re in the process of searching his phone. During the search of the vehicle, we found a suspicious device inspected by bomb technicians.”
Biden has ordered a comprehensive review of security at the rally and at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump will be officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
Biden praised the victim, Corey Comperatore, for “protecting his family from the bullets.”
Questions have arisen about shooter Crooks, whose body was seen on television on a low roof near an AR-style semi-automatic rifle legally bought by his father. Crooks’ former classmates described him as a quiet and often lonely student.
“He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much,” said Jason Kohler, who attended the same high school as Crooks.
The incident has prompted criticism of security measures, particularly how a presidential candidate could be targeted from 150 meters away despite substantial Secret Service presence.
US Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi dismissed “absolutely false” claims that additional protection for Trump had been refused ahead of the rally. Some phone footage suggested that people had seen the shooter on the roof before he opened fire.
Political Fallout
The attempt on Trump’s life has sent shockwaves globally, but its impact on the tight US presidential race remains uncertain. Trump’s family has shared images of him raising a defiant fist to the crowd after the shooting.
The incident has spurred conspiracy theories and blame from Republicans, with possible Trump vice presidential pick J.D. Vance accusing Biden’s campaign rhetoric of leading directly to the attack.
US politics have become increasingly hostile, with Trump’s image built on inflammatory rhetoric, and many Democrats expressing anger at Trump’s rise.
World leaders have condemned the assassination attempt, with UN chief Antonio Guterres stating his unequivocal condemnation.
