President Biden called on Americans to reject political violence in his Oval Office address, following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In a primetime address from the White House, Biden condemned the attack and urged Americans to come together and resolve their differences at the ballot box, not with violence.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead at the scene by Secret Service agents after opening fire at the rally. One person was killed, and two others were critically injured in the attack. Explosive materials were found in Crooks’ vehicle and at his home, as officials continue to investigate his motives.
President Biden praised the heroism of Corey Comperatore, a former firefighter who was killed while shielding his family from bullets during the attack. Biden called for unity and condemned the increasing political polarization in the country, warning that the upcoming election would be a “time of testing”.
Despite accusations from Trump’s allies blaming Biden for the attack, the President did not address these criticisms directly in his speech. Trump, who was wounded in the ear during the attack, has called for unity and thanked his Secret Service detail for their quick actions.
As Trump prepares to accept the Republican nomination for president at the National Convention in Milwaukee, the Secret Service has stated they have no plans to impose additional security measures, despite questions about how the gunman was able to get so close to the former president. The investigation into the attack continues as the nation grapples with the aftermath of political violence.
