Surprised reactions - This is sick
The USA is in shock. The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was attacked during a campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania. The incident occurred while Trump was beginning his speech on the stage in the small town of Butler. Following what appeared to be gunshots or explosions, law enforcement officers rushed Trump to the ground. Afterwards, Trump, with blood on his right ear, was taken to safety.
Trump's campaign team later reported that the 78-year-old ex-president was doing well and would be undergoing medical examination on site.
The outrage over the news from Pennsylvania is immense. Numerous high-ranking representatives from both parties condemned the attack on Trump in the strongest terms.
Politicians in the USA shocked by the attack on Donald Trump
- US-President Joe Biden spoke to the press in the evening and said that everyone must condemn the attack on Trump. "That's sick," Biden said. "There's no place for this kind of violence in America." Biden made the statement in a hastily arranged press conference in Rehoboth Beach in the state of Delaware, where the Democrat was spending the weekend. "We must stand as a nation to condemn this." The President added, looking at Trump, "I'm grateful to hear that he's in safety and doing well." "I pray for him and his family and for all those who were at the gathering while we wait for more information."
- The Republican Chairman of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, expressed his support on the platform X.
- Similarly, the democratic Minority Leader of the Parliamentary Chamber, Hakeem Jeffries, wrote there. "America is a democracy," he wrote. "Political violence in any form is never acceptable."
- Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, also commented: "I thank God that the former president Trump is in safety," she wrote on X.
- The democratic Majority Leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, shared that he was disturbed by the incident and relieved that Trump was okay. "Political violence has no place in our country."
- Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush also declared that there is no place for political violence in a democracy. Other top US politicians echoed similar sentiments.
- Shortly after the attack, US Billionaire Elon Musk officially announced his support for Trump's re-election campaign. "I fully support President Trump and hope he recovers quickly," Musk wrote on X.
International reactions
World leaders expressed shock over the news from the USA.
- Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his solidarity with the former US President. "My thoughts and prayers are with President Donald Trump in these dark hours", Orban wrote on platform X.
- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was shocked. "Sara and I were shocked by the obvious attack on President Trump", Netanyahu wrote about himself and his wife on X. "We pray for his safety and quick recovery."
- Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned political violence in all forms. "I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally and we send him and his family our best wishes", Starmer shared on X. He has been in office since early July.
- The British right-wing populist Nigel Farage attacked the media after the incident. "Mainstream media have spread a narrative of hate against my friend Donald Trump", Farage wrote on X. "I hope they are proud of themselves. Disgusting people."
- Despite the shocking incident in Pennsylvania, the campaign for the upcoming US elections continues. Joe Biden's campaign team released a statement expressing concern for Trump's well-being and reiterating their commitment to a peaceful and democratic process.
- As the news spread, tech mogul Elon Musk took to social media to express his support for Trump's recovery, stating, "I hope President Trump recovers quickly and that this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and peace in political discourse."
- In the midst of this, the ongoing feud between Trump and Biden seemed to take a backseat as both leaders called for unity and condemned the attack. In a statement, Biden's team urged all Americans to "set aside our differences and come together in this time of national crisis."
- Internationally, the attack also sparked reactions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock and concern, stating, "We are following the situation in the United States closely and hope that the former president Trump recovers quickly and fully." Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the incident, calling for peace and unity in the midst of political tension.
