US President Joe Biden used the official setting in the White Oval Office home to address an appeal to Americans to cool down political passions after a gunman wounded his Republican rival Donald Trump at a campaign rally, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The shooting of Trump "is an invitation to all of us to take a step back,", Biden said in remarks that lasted less than seven minutes. Fortunately, Trump was not seriously injured, he noted.
"We cannot allow this violence to become the norm. The political rhetoric in this country has become too heated. It's time to cool down passions," the president said, adding: "We all have a responsibility to do that."
This is the third time Biden has used the Oval Office to comment on issues of great importance to Americans since he took office in 2021. The appearance and statement gave Biden, 81, an opportunity to demonstrate the influence of his office - an important symbol in his battle with some members of his own Democratic Party, who are pushing for him to withdraw from the race, fearing he lacks the edge. in mind for another four-year term.
In October of last year, Biden gave a prime-time speech addressing the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and in June 2023, he spoke from the Oval Office when a deal was reached with Republicans to avoid breaching the U.S. debt ceiling. USA.
Gun violence is a constant presence in everyday life in the United States. However, political violence is rare. Four US presidents have been assassinated and several have survived assassination attempts. Many presidential candidates have been shot, some of them fatally.
Biden and his team are trying to chart their campaign course after the shooting of Trump, the former president whom Biden sees as a threat to American democracy if elected on Nov. 5.
The campaign backed away from verbal attacks on the former president to focus instead on the future. Within hours of Saturday's shooting, the Biden campaign pulled television ads and suspended other political communications.
Tonight, I appeal to Americans to recommit to resolving their differences peacefully, Biden said. "Hate should not be used as a loophole in the law," he added.
Earlier yesterday, the US president also condemned the assassination attempt on his Republican rival Donald Trump and said he was grateful that Trump was recovering after being wounded, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
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"Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now - unity. We will debate and disagree. That won't change. But we will not lose sight of who we are as Americans," he said.
Biden said he had a short but good conversation with Trump this evening and that he was "truly grateful that he is well and recovering.
He said he ordered a review of security measures amid questions about how the shooter was able to get into position to open fire on Trump.
Biden announced that there will be an independent review of security measures at the rally. Investigators need to find out exactly what happened, he told reporters at the White House, quoted by DPA.
"We still don't have information on the shooter's motive, but we do know who he is. I urge everyone: please do not speculate about his motives or connections. Let the FBI and partner agencies do their job," the US president said in a statement from the White House.
The White House said the president will not travel to Texas tomorrow as planned. Biden spent the weekend at his home in the state of Delaware when the news of the assassination attempt on former President Trump broke and he returned to Washington.