The image of Donald Trump with his fist raised, his face marbled with blood, full of anger and defiance, surrounded by Secret Service agents, has now become a symbol of the tumultuous 2024 presidential campaign. This dramatic event, which has captivated a global audience, resembles a political fiction scenario more than ever. The recent assassination attempt on the former president has already cast a threatening atmosphere over the upcoming election on November 5.
Instead of uniting Americans and the political class to combat this climate of violence, the event has immediately stoked fury and fueled venomous partisan attacks. In the hours following the attack, many elected officials and Republican commentators accused the Democrats of inciting this assassination attempt through their speeches, comparing Trump to a dictator.
President Joe Biden was at mass when the attack against Donald Trump occurred at a rally in Pennsylvania. Upon leaving the Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, he was asked if he had been informed about the incident and responded briefly: 'No.' Shortly after, the White House issued a statement saying that Biden had received information about what happened. The president's agenda quickly changed to include a public intervention where he condemned the violence and called for unity, stating, 'There is no place in America for this type of violence. It's sick. It's one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow this to happen. We cannot consent to this.'
Biden has repeatedly accused his rival in the past of fueling political violence, considering 'hostages' those convicted of the assault on the Capitol and his incendiary speeches. This time, however, the victim was his predecessor, who was evacuated by the Secret Service from a rally after apparently being hit by distant gunfire. Although Trump had some bleeding from his ear and face, he was reportedly feeling fine, as assured by his spokesperson. Biden attempted to contact Trump but was unable to because Trump was with the doctors. 'Apparently, he's fine. I plan to speak with him shortly, I hope, when he gets back on the phone,' Biden said during his appearance.
'Trump's rally should have been able to proceed peacefully without any problems,' Biden stated. 'The idea that there is political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of, it's just inappropriate. Everyone must condemn it. Everyone,' the president added, noting that 'all federal government agencies' are investigating the incident and providing him with reports on the latest developments.
In an intervention that lasted only a couple of minutes, Biden answered one question about whether he believed it was an assassination attempt, which is how the authorities are investigating it. 'I don't know enough. I have my opinion, but I don't have any facts. So I want to make sure we have all the facts before making any comments,' he replied. His statement lasted only two minutes, and he did not respond to questions about whether security at the rally failed and whether he fears for his own safety.
