Donald Trump expressed gratitude during preparations in Milwaukee on Monday for the upcoming Republican presidential nomination, following a narrow escape from an assassination attempt that he views as a chance to unite the nation.
A 20-year-old man opened fire on President Trump, 78, with an AR-15-style rifle from a neighboring rooftop while he was doing a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, a state that will be significant in the next election.
“I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that at that moment, we would not be talking today, would we?” Trump told reporters, reflecting on the close call.
Despite being hit in the upper right ear, Trump sustained minor injuries, with his campaign assuring the public of his well-being.
The incident resulted in one fatality among attendees and injuries to two others before Secret Service agents intervened, fatally shooting the assailant.
In separate addresses on Sunday, both Trump and President Joe Biden emphasized the need for calm and unity in a deeply divided political landscape.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever. Period. No exceptions,” President Biden said in a televised address from the White House. “It’s time to cool it down,” he urged regarding heated political rhetoric.
Arriving in Milwaukee, Trump asserted, “This is a chance to bring together the whole country, even the whole world. The speech will be a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago.”
“I want to try to unite our country,” Trump stated during the flight to Milwaukee, as reported by reporters. “But I don’t know if that’s possible. People are very divided.”
Biden ordered a review of security protocols after the gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to approach Trump from a close range, prompting questions about Secret Service procedures.
Following the incident, Trump and Biden communicated directly, with First Lady Jill Biden also speaking to former First Lady Melania Trump to convey support.
As the election rivalry intensifies, both candidates remain neck and neck in the polls. The FBI continues to investigate the motive behind the attempted assassination, stressing that Crooks acted alone without apparent ties to any specific ideology or previous threats.
The use of a legally obtained AR-style rifle raised concerns, with authorities also discovering a suspicious device in Crooks’ vehicle, which was subsequently neutralized by bomb experts.
Responding to allegations from some supporters, the Secret Service clarified that additional security measures had recently been implemented for Trump.
In a rare event for the nation, the shooting marks the first attack on a sitting or former U.S. president since the 1981 attempt on Ronald Reagan.
With rising concerns over political violence, a majority of Americans fear potential unrest following the upcoming election, according to recent polls.
“The incident in Bethel Park underscores the heightened political tensions across the country,” noted resident Wes Morgan, reflecting on the local community’s reaction to the news.
Moving forward, the Oversight Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives plans to scrutinize Secret Service protocols in response to the security breach.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, voices from all sides echo calls for restraint and unity amidst turbulent political currents.
