Biden Condemns Violence and Calls for Unity After Attempt on Trump’s Life ‘We Must Stand Together'”
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
President Joe Biden delivered a powerful speech from the Oval Office on Sunday evening, addressing the nation after the deadly attack at Donald Trump’s campaign rally. Biden urged Americans that “we must stand together” in the face of such violence.
The update from the White House follows Biden’s earlier remarks on the tragedy, where Trump sustained minor injuries after a bullet grazed his ear. During his address, the 81-year-old president condemned the heinous act and emphasized the importance of national unity. He declared, “There is no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence ever. Period. No exceptions. We cannot allow this violence to be normalized.”
Biden continued, “We cannot, we must not go down this road in America that we traveled before throughout history. Violence has never been the answer. With members of both parties in Congress being targeted and shot, a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th, a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, intimidation of election officials, a kidnapping plot against a city governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump”, reports BBC.
Offering condolences, Biden said, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed. Corey was a husband, a father, a voluntary firefighter, and a hero—sheltering his family from those bullets. We should all hold his family and all those injured in our prayers.”
Earlier on Sunday, Biden confirmed he had spoken to Trump personally and is “sincerely grateful” that his political opponent is doing well and recovering from his minor injuries. Biden mentioned that he and Trump had a “short but good conversation” and that he and his wife Jill are keeping Trump and his family in their prayers.
Biden also spoke about the severity of the upcoming election, stating, “The stakes in this election are enormously high. I’ve said many times that the choice we make in this election is going to shape the future of America and the world for decades to come. I believe that with all my soul. I know that millions of my fellow Americans believe it as well.”
Biden confirmed he had a briefing about the incident in the White House Situation Room earlier Sunday, which included top advisers and Vice President Kamala Harris. Ahead of the Republican National Convention, which Trump has announced he will be attending, Biden has asked the director of the Secret Service to review all security measures for the event.
Following the assassination attempt, Trump supporters have raised concerns over security lapses, claiming the Secret Service has “questions to answer” after the 20-year-old shooter was able to take aim at the former president from an unmarked rooftop just 400 feet away. Biden has requested an independent review of security at the rally and has promised to publicly share the results of that review.
In these challenging times, Biden’s call for unity and a thorough review of security measures aims to reassure the nation and prevent such violent incidents in the future.
