President Biden's Oval Office Address Following Trump Rally Shooting
President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday evening following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Biden began his address by expressing gratitude that Trump was not seriously injured and offering condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, a retired firefighter and father of two who died while shielding his wife and daughter from gunfire.
The president went on to reference the latest updates from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service, stating that a motive for the shooter, as well as additional details surrounding the planning and execution of the attack, has not yet been determined.
Biden then cited recent examples of political violence, including the January 6 Capitol protests, the kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the radical pro-nudity activist who attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer. However, he did not reference the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) by a Bernie Sanders supporter at the Congressional baseball game in 2017.
Instead, the president claimed that members of Congress from "both parties" have been shot or targeted. "Violence has never been the answer," Biden said. "Whether it's with members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against the sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump. There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever. Period. No exceptions."
Biden went on to argue that the upcoming presidential election will "shape the future of America and the world for decades to come." He urged Americans to "cool down" the political rhetoric and "pursue justice" in a peaceful manner.
Former President Trump was released from a Pittsburgh area hospital on Sunday evening after being treated for a wound to his ear. He has already made his way to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, where he is set to accept the party's nomination for president.
Trump announced that he was on his way to Milwaukee and was seen landing in the city a few hours later. He also authorized a GoFundMe page for the victims of the shooting, which has raised nearly triple its original goal in just one day.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this attempted assassination, it is important to remember the words of President Biden: "Politics must never be a literal battlefield, and God forbid, a killing field. We stand for an America, not of extremism and fury, but of decency and grace."
Sources:
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