Democrats stop campaign attacks and express condolences after Trump shooting

Following the fatal shooting that injured the former president at a MAGA campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Democratic leaders backed off their harsh criticism of Donald Trump and withdrew their negative political attack ads.

“There is no place for this kind of violence in America,” President Joe Biden told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. “This is sick, this is sick.”

As Biden spoke, his campaign officials announced they were withdrawing their anti-Trump attack ads after chaos broke out at the event, potentially changing the course of the presidential campaign.

“The Biden team is pausing all outbound communications and working to stop our television advertising as quickly as possible,” a spokesman said.

Later that evening, the White House announced that President Biden had spoken with former President Trump.

From Biden down, Democrats expressed their thoughts and prayers for Trump after the apparent assassination attempt. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety,” Biden said earlier in a statement on X. “There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as a nation to condemn it.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “appalled by what happened” at the rally, where Trump – with blood appearing to pool around his right ear and running down his cheek – shook his fist at supporters and appeared to shout “fight, fight, fight” as Secret Service agents escorted him to the waiting motorcade.

House Democratic Caucus Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated that he was grateful to federal police officers for protecting the former president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate. “My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump,” Jeffries said, adding that “political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”

The shooter was dead after being “neutralized” by Secret Service agents, the agency confirmed in a statement, adding that the gunman “fired multiple shots at the stage from an elevated position.”

The incident is being viewed as a possible assassination attempt on the former president and current Republican presidential candidate, who is scheduled to accept his party’s formal nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also said: “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump and anyone else who may have been injured a speedy recovery.”

During his brief appearance before the media in Delaware, Biden said the gun violence that broke out at Trump’s rally was “simply outrageous.”

Former President Barack Obama tweeted: “While we do not yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump was not seriously injured and use this moment to recommit to decency and respect in our politics.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a former Speaker of the House whose husband was bludgeoned in an attack that was actually aimed at her, tweeted: “As someone whose family has been a victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”

“Hillary and I are grateful that President Trump is safe,” former President Bill Clinton said on X.