World leaders condemned the shooting of presumptive Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, an incident that rocked the US election campaign and raised fears of further political violence.
Republican and Democratic leaders, including Trump’s political rival and President Joe Biden condemned the incident. Biden conveyed relief over the former President’s safety, saying there’s “no place for this kind of violence in America” and he’s “grateful to hear that Trump is safe”.
“I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information…. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” Biden said in a post on social media X.
Vice President Kamala Harris also denounced the “abhorrent” attack, saying “we must all do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.” She also expressed gratitude and praised the the swift action by the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities.
Expressing deep concern over the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts were with Trump, adding the shooting marked a ‘tragedy for our democracies’.
In a post on X, he wrote, “I send him my wishes for a speedy recovery. A spectator has died, several are injured… France shares the shock and indignation of the American people.”
Other notable officials from the US, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama offered support to Trump and condemned the attack.
Obama said, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”
“Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response,” wrote George W. Bush on X.
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, criticised the violence in his home state, saying “I am appalled and condemn in the strongest terms this violence in Butler.”
“I extend my condolences to those injured and wish a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Trump,” he said in a post on X.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) called an assassination attempt.
“The Secretary General condemns this act of political violence. He sends his best wishes to President Trump for a speedy recovery,” Guterres spokesman Stephan Dujarric said in a statement.
Trump was speaking at a rally on July 13 in western Pennsylvania when several shots rang out. Later, he said a bullet pierced the top of his right ear.
Two people were killed, including the alleged attacker, and two people in the audience were also seriously injured.
The FBI has identified the suspect as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Pennsylvania.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “deeply shocked” by the shooting.
“Political violence has no place in a democracy,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I wish Donald Trump a speedy recovery and express my condolences to the family of the innocent victim,” she added.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said political violence is never acceptable.
“My thoughts are with former President Trump, those at the scene and all Americans,” he said in a post to X.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he was shocked, strongly condemning the attack.
“Once again we are witnessing unacceptable acts of violence against political representatives,” he wrote to X.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who visited Trump at his home in Florida a few days ago, said that his thoughts and prayers were with the former US president.
Ukraine’s president, who has had a rocky past relationship with Trump, said he was horrified to hear about the shooting.
“Such violence has no justification and has no place anywhere in the world,” he wrote in X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Trump a speedy recovery.
The leaders of the Western Balkan region have also reacted to the assassination of Trump.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has condemned the assassination attempt against Trump, wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.
“Political dissent in a democracy must always be expressed through peaceful forms of speech and protest and resolved by free and fair elections,” he wrote in X.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has expressed concern about the assassination attempt, condemning “violence as a tool for political conflict”.
“I wish him a speedy recovery, knowing that he will come out of this fight even stronger,” he wrote in X.
The attack on Trump was also condemned by the president of North Macedonia, Gordana Silanovska-Davkova.
“Political violence has no violence in democracy,” she wrote on social networks.
The shooting in Pennsylvania occurred two days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to secure the party’s nomination to run in the November 5 presidential election. /REL/
