Across the spectrum, leaders condemn Trump shooting

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - After former President Donald Trump was injured in an apparent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, there was an outpouring of reaction.

The gunman injured Trump’s ear, one spectator was killed and two were injured. The Secret Service killed the gunman seconds after the first shots rang out.

Hours after the shooting, Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social online platform:

Georgia state Sen. Max Burns spoke to News 12 after the shooting.

“All ed voters in Georgia are now going to have to deal with this as a challenge that we have to overcome, and I would say don’t lose faith in the process,” he said. “Don’t abandon the ideas of democracy, but participate peacefully. It’s OK to disagree. We can have legitimate differences, but we cannot resort to violence.”

Reactions poured in from elsewhere in the two-state region and across the country, including these statements:

President Joe Biden

Sen. Tim Scott

Gov. Henry McMaster

Sen. Lindsey Graham

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr

Former President George W. Bush

Former President Barack Obama

Former President Bill Clinton

The Carter Center

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Sen. Jon Ossoff

Gov. Brian Kemp

Former President Bill Clinton

Vice President Kamala Harris

Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock

Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley

More U.S. reaction

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland: “My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack. We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: “The entire Department of Defense condemns this violence, which has absolutely no place in our democracy. This is not the way that we resolve our differences in America — and it must never be. I’m relieved that reports indicate former President Trump is safe, and I am praying for him and his family and everyone affected by this appalling incident.”

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas: “We condemn this violence in the strongest possible and commend the Secret Service for their swift action today. We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security. Maintaining the security of the Presidential candidates and their campaign events is one of our Department’s most vital priorities.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson: “I have been briefed by law enforcement and am continuing to monitor the developments. This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned.”

Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee mayor: “There is no space, absolutely none, for this sort of violence in America. No one should be shot — not like this. Not kids, not churchgoers, and not a candidate for president of the United States. I wish Mr. Trump a speedy recovery.”

Rep. Steve Scalise: “For weeks Democrat leaders have been fueling ludicrous hysteria that Donald Trump winning re-election would be the end of democracy in America. Clearly we’ve seen far left lunatics act on violent rhetoric in the past. This incendiary rhetoric must stop.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer: “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country.”

Kay Kendrick, McDuffie County GOP chair: “On behalf of the McDuffie County Republician Party, I would like to extend our prayers to President Trump and the family of those injured. Must mostly we pray for the man who lost his life tonight , while attending a rally to Donald Trump.”

Around the world

Australia: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the “inexcusable attack” on the United States and Australia’s shared democratic values. “In Australia, as in the United States, the essence and the purpose of our democracies is that we can express our views, debate our disagreements and resolve our differences peacefully,” Albanese told reporters in the Australian Parliament House.

Austria: Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on X that he was appalled by the attempt. “Political violence has no place in our society!” he said.

Brazil: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the incident unacceptable on X and said the attack must be “strongly repudiated” by all democracy defenders.

Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was sickened by the shooting and his thoughts were with Trump, those at the event and all Americans. “It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable,” he wrote on X.

China: The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that China is concerned about the attack and President Xi Jinping has already extended his sympathies to Trump.

Czech Republic: Wishing Trump a speedy recovery, Czech President Petr Pavel said there’s “no place for violence in a democratic society,” adding that politicians” need to try to calm the situation down.”

Egypt: President Abdelfattah El Sissi stressed his country’s condemnation of the attack in a statement and wished for the U.S. election campaigns to resume peacefully.

: French President Emmanuel Macron sent his wishes to Trump for a prompt recovery. “It is a drama for our democracies. shares the indignation of the American people,” he posted on X.

: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X saying the attack was “despicable” and such violent acts threaten democracy. “My comionate thoughts are also with the other people who were hurt in the attack,” he said.

Hungary: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said his thoughts and prayers were with Trump “in these dark hours” on X.

India: India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, said he was deeply concerned by “the attack on my friend.” “Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies,” he wrote on X.

Iraq: Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, condemned the attack “in the strongest ,” saying on X his thoughts are with the victims of “this senseless act of terrorism.”

Israel: At the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he watched “in horror,” adding that the attack was also an “assassination attempt on American democracy.” He said everyone in Israel was sending Trump wishes for “a quick recovery and return to full strength.”

Italy: President Sergio Mattarella said in a statement the attack was a cause for serious alarm and “a disconcerting symptom of the deterioration of the civil fabric and of the dangerous refusal of confrontation, dialogue and respect for democratic life.” Meanwhile, Premier Giorgia Meloni wished Trump a quick recovery.

Japan: “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on X.

Mexico: Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, denounced the attack on X and said “violence is irrational and inhumane.”

Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the shooting a “shocking development.” He said he condemned all violence in politics and wished the former president a swift recovery and good health. And imprisoned Pakistani opposition leader and former prime minister Imran Khan, who was shot and injured at a rally in November 2022, wished Trump a full recovery. “Political violence is a tool of cowards and has no place in a democracy,” he said on X.

Russia: President Vladimir Putin has no plans at present to call Trump, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “We do not at all think or believe that the attempt to eliminate presidential candidate Trump was organized by the current government, but the atmosphere that this istration created during the political struggle, the atmosphere around candidate Trump provoked what America is faced with today,” he added. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said earlier Sunday on her Telegram channel that American lawmakers should employ the money they use to supply weapons to Ukraine “to finance the American police and other services which should ensure law and order within the United States.”

South Africa: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote on X that the attempted assassination of Trump “is a stark reminder of the dangers of political extremism and intolerance.” Ramaphosa also voiced his hope that “the citizens and leaders of America will have the fortitude and sagacity to reject violence and seek peaceful solutions.”

Slovakia: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May, condemned the shooting in a Facebook post. He drew direct parallels between the two incidents, suggesting the attack on Trump was the result of a campaign by his political opponents.

Taiwan: Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, said on X his thoughts and prayers are with Trump, adding that political violence of any form is never acceptable “in our democracies.”

Turkey: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the shooting on X, offering his good wishes to Trump, his family and ers. He said he believed “the investigation into the attack will be conducted effectively” so as not to undermine the US elections.

The European Commission: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X she was deeply shocked by the shooting, adding that political violence has no place in democracy.

Ukraine: Also on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was appalled to learn about the shooting, saying such violence has no justification. He added he was relieved to learn that Trump is safe. Zelenskyy extended his wishes for strength to everyone who was horrified by the event.

United Arab Emirates: The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack on Trump, describing it as “a criminal and extremist act.”

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X that he was appalled by the “shocking scenes,” and sent his best wishes to Trump and his family. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies,” he said. British lawmaker Nigel Farage, a friend of Trump’s, sought to pin much of the blame on the “mainstream media” that he claimed opposed the former president. He told the BBC that it was a “horrendous” incident but somehow he was not shocked by it.

Vatican: In a statement, the Vatican expressed its concern over “last night’s episode of violence, which hurts people and democracy, causing suffering and death.” Pope Francis didn’t mention the apparent assassination attempt in his weekly prayers earlier.

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