Following the attempt on his life yesterday, former U.S President, Donald Trump has issued a new statement thanking people for their messages of support and expressing condolences to the three rally-goers who were killed or injured.
“Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
He also called for unity.
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” he said.
Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in the state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, 2024, evening.
A gunman on a rooftop outside the rally venue fired multiple shots towards the stage as Trump was speaking, hitting him in the ear.
One person who attended the rally was killed and two other spectators were critically wounded.
The suspected attacker, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service.
His motive remains unclear.
US President Joe Biden, who was in Delaware, condemned the shooting, which he called “sick.”
Melania Trump, the former President’s wife, issued a statement saying that she is “grateful to the brave” officers “who risked their own lives to protect” the Republican politician.
“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” she said.
She extended her “sincerest sympathy” to the families of the casualties in the shooting.
Trump’s daughter Tiffany also thanked members of the Secret Service and law enforcement for “fearlessly” intervening during the Pennsylvania shooting, adding that “political violence is never the answer”.
“Please include the families of the victims in your prayers,” she said on X.
She added, “As you saw today, my father is a fighter and he will continue to fight for you and the USA.”
Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee said that the Republican convention, which kicks off on Monday and wraps on Thursday, is going to go ahead.
Michael Whatley, the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, stated that the authorities are working together to ensure security at the party’s convention in Milwaukee.
Trump is due to receive his party’s formal nomination at the convention.
He indicated that he has every intention of showing up at the Republican National Convention (RNC) and giving a speech where he’s expected to name the Vice Presidential candidate who will be running with him.
Assassination Attempt To Give Trump Another Election Boost
James Davis, a Republican political strategist, opined that the shooting attack will likely help Trump in his efforts to return to the White House.
“I think it gives Trump another boost in this election overall,” he said.
“He was really presented as a victim overall in some of the prosecution cases earlier this year and then obviously this ratchets things up quite a bit.”
James Davis
Also, the shooting attack is all but sure to spark a renewed debate about gun control in the US.
However, Analyst Ross Feingold stated that he doesn’t expect any substantial change.
“Democrats want to pass more gun control, but the Supreme Court has been really clear in some of its recent decisions,” he noted.
“We’ve seen this after some of the recent terrible mass shootings in the United States, where the issue of gun control comes back up again, but Republicans are not in favour of it,” Feingold, who is the former Asia chairman of Republicans Abroad, said.
“They have the control of at least one house of the Congress and a sufficient number of state legislatures where these guns are going to continue to circulate,” he stated.
He added, “So I wouldn’t expect there to be any gun control legislation that arises from this incident.”
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