(Butler) Joe Biden and Donald Trump both called on Americans to unite on Sunday, the day after the assassination attempt against the former Republican president that federal authorities consider to be “a potential act of domestic terrorism.”
WHAT WE KNOW
- Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday;
- The former US president claimed that the upper part of his right ear had been pierced by a bullet;
- The suspected shooter, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead;
- One spectator was killed and two others seriously injured;
- In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Donald Trump said that “it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening”;
- The Republican leader also called on Americans to be united and resilient.
“We have to come together as a nation,” the US president said at the White House, adding that he had a “short but good conversation” with his rival in the November presidential election on Saturday evening.
He announced at the same time that he would address the nation later that evening from the solemn setting of the Oval Office, and indicated that he had ordered an “independent investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
The 78-year-old former president and new candidate for the White House was injured in the ear and was evacuated with a bloody cheek after several shots were fired at a rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left one spectator dead and two seriously injured.
The deceased was identified as a former firefighter, Corey Comperatore, 50, according to the governor of the northeastern state.
Miraculous
Before being evacuated, the former president raised his fist in the air in defiance, calling for “fighting”, an image that is being played over and over again and has already become historic.
“Only God prevented the unthinkable from happening,” the Republican candidate assured Sunday on his Truth Social platform.
“At this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united,” the former president added.
He also confirmed his intention to travel to Milwaukee on Sunday, where the Republican convention will take place from Monday and where security will be reinforced.
Isolated shooter
The Secret Service, which protects senior political figures, said Sunday it was “fully prepared” to guarantee security for the Republican convention in Milwaukee, despite concerns raised by the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired several shots from the roof of a building outside the rally perimeter about 150 yards from the Republican candidate before being “neutralized” by officers, federal authorities said.
The FBI confirmed Sunday that the shooter acted alone and had no identified ideological affiliation.
“We are investigating this as an attempted assassination, but we are also considering it as a potential act of domestic terrorism,” said Agent Bobby Wells. The FBI also said the weapon used, a semi-automatic rifle, was purchased legally.
Explosives were found in his vehicle parked not far from the rally site, according to the same sources.
The shooter’s motive remains unknown, however, President Biden stressed, calling on Americans not to draw “hasty conclusions.”
ILLUSTRATION AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A Maxar satellite image showing the location where Donald Trump held a rally.
” Surprised “
The Republican candidate, who had just begun his speech with one of his usual tirades against immigration, immediately took cover behind his lectern before being surrounded and protected by agents. He then stood up, his hair disheveled and his face bloodied, before being taken to a vehicle to be evacuated.
The audience cried out in fear and spectators threw themselves to the ground.
The assassination attempt has sparked outrage among world leaders from Britain to Japan, France and Israel.
The event has already rekindled political tensions and conspiracy theories have flooded social media.
And questions began to emerge about the security apparatus around Donald Trump, supposedly one of the most protected figures in the world.
Witnesses said they saw the suspect before the shooting and alerted security services.
“Quite frankly, I’m surprised he was able to get up on that roof and shoot,” Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told MSNBC on Sunday.
The Secret Service denied Sunday that it had refused additional resources to ensure Donald Trump’s security ahead of the rally.
PHOTO EVAN VUCCI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Secret Service agents
This event comes as a revelation of the political tensions running through an American society on edge.
While the impact on the campaign remains to be seen, the focus that has been on doubts about the health of Joe Biden, 81, and his ability to take on Donald Trump since their debate in late June has completely shifted.
The American president also postponed a trip planned for Monday to Texas (south), and his team decided to temporarily suspend its campaign advertising.
For Donald Trump, on the other hand, this already historic sequence could turn out to be positive for him on the electoral level, according to experts.