President Joe Biden warned Sunday of the risks of political violence in the United States following the apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump the day before, stressing that “it’s time to cool things down.”
In a nationally televised address from the Oval Office during prime time, Biden said political passions may be high, but “we must never descend into violence.” The president acknowledged the passions that run high in an election year, and that he and Republicans offer different political visions.but pleaded with Americans to make a “new commitment” to resolve their differences peacefully.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence, any kind of violence. Ever. Period. No exceptions. We cannot allow this kind of violence to be normalized,” the president declared.
Biden spoke for six minutes in what was his third address to the nation since Saturday’s attack, in which a gunman killed one bystander and seriously injured two others. He made his warning hours after FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said his officers have seen increasingly violent messages online since the incident at Trump’s rally the previous day.
The former president and presumptive Republican nominee on Sunday called for unity and resilience a day after an apparent attempt on his life injected fresh uncertainty into what was already a tumultuous presidential campaign.
Trump said the top of his right ear was pierced by a bullet. Aides said he was in “excellent spirits” and good health. He arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday night for the convention, which begins Monday. He told the Washington Examiner newspaper that he had rewritten his speech to focus more on national unity than Biden’s policies.
In a post on his social media account on Sunday, Trump said: “At this moment, it is more important than ever to stand together, and demonstrate our true character as Americans, by remaining strong and determined, and not allowing evil to win.”
In a nationally televised prime-time address on Sunday, Biden urged the public to recommit to civil debate. “There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any kind of violence. Ever. Period. No exceptions,” he said. “We cannot allow this violence to become normalized.”
The FBI said the shooter was Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles from the shooting.
The attacker was armed with his father’s AR-style rifle and was perched on a nearby rooftop when some attendees at the event informed local police of his presence.
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2024-07-16 07:08:34