Biden Condemns Violence Following Shooting at Trump Rally: “No Place for This in America”

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden condemned political violence following a shooting that interrupted a campaign rally held by former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Trump was injured in the incident.

Biden refrained from labeling the incident as an assassination attempt, citing a lack of definitive information. “I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts,” Biden stated, during brief remarks from the police department in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, near his vacation home. “So I want to make sure we have all the facts before I make some comment.”

The President also mentioned that he hadn’t spoken to Trump yet but intended to do so soon. “I have tried to get a hold of Donald. He’s with his doctors. Apparently, he’s doing well,” Biden added. “I plan on talking to him shortly. I hope when I get back to the telephone.”

Trump addressed the situation on social media after Biden’s remarks, extending his condolences to the family of a person killed at the rally and another person who was badly injured. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” he wrote. “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.”

The former president disclosed that he had been “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” and detailed his immediate reaction to the injury. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump explained. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

President Biden’s remarks emphasized that such violence is unacceptable. “There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick,” he said. “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.”

Biden stressed that Trump should have been able to hold the rally peacefully. “The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate,” he commented. “Everybody must condemn it.”

Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her concerns, stating she had been briefed on the incident. “Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” Harris noted.

“Violence such as this has no place in our nation,” she added. “We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”