President Joe Biden on Sunday summoned the full gravitas of the Oval Office to entreat Americans to unify and shun political violence after a stunning attempt on the life of rival Donald Trump a day earlier – amid fears that more political troubles are ahead as the nation hurtles toward the November presidential election.
Trump is in Milwaukee ahead of the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to clinch the Republican presidential nomination. He made similar calls.
Trump stood up seconds after a shooter attempted to take his life at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday. But as Biden acknowledged Sunday, in a live address to the nation from behind the massive desk that has come to symbolize American power, this is no mere flesh wound. He urged unity and reminded Americans that their power comes through the ballot – not the bullet.
“My fellow Americans,” he began, “I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we're not enemies. We're neighbors, we're friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we’re fellow Americans, we must stand together. Yesterday’s shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back. Take stock of where we are, and how we go forward from here.”
Earlier in the day, speaking from another room of the White House, he urged Americans to not jump to conclusions as law enforcement investigates the shooting.
“I urge everyone – everyone – please don't make assumptions about his motive or his affiliations,” Biden said.
Also Sunday, the White House announced that Biden would not travel Monday to Texas, as previously planned. The campaign had said Saturday that they were working to temporarily suspend campaign messaging and take down ads.
Biden had abruptly returned to Washington early Sunday to receive briefings on the event and its aftermath. He and Vice President Kamala Harris spent much of the morning in the White House Situation Room with Homeland Security and law enforcement officials, according to a White House photo.
Earlier in the day, Biden said Trump is “doing well and recovering” and that he had taken steps to direct the Secret Service to provide Trump with “every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety.”
Biden said that he instructed the elite law enforcement agency to review all security measures – “all security measures,” he repeated for emphasis – as the Republican National Convention begins.
Trump has 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 posted on his social media site, Truth Social, on Sunday.
And on Sunday, former first lady Melania Trump issued a plea for Americans to “ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.”
Analysts say that Trump’s defiance in the face of death – seen in widely circulated images of him rising just seconds after dropping down, and angrily waving his fist in the air as blood ran from his right ear while his bodyguards attempted to shield him – will have an effect.
“It will have a huge impact on this election, and on our politics more broadly,” said Casey Burgat, director of legislative affairs at the George Washington University.
“History suggests we're likely to see a rally-around-the-Trump effect, where those that were in his camp will be even more in his camp. And then those who just can't stomach the political violence, for those who face a reality check of just how dangerous our political rhetoric has become and sees this manifestation of violence play out before our very eyes, it's going to have an impact on this election.”
Trump’s backers say the grim scene may have taught the nation something important.
“It was both a really terrible day for American democracy, but in a lot of ways it was also a great day,” said Alex Gray, chief of staff in Trump's White House National Security Council, saying it shows the strength and the frailty of American institutions “I think whether you support President Trump or you don't support President Trump, I think what everyone should take away from that is that American democracy is a lot bigger and a lot more resilient than too many people give it credit for.”
Some analysts say they fear more trouble as the two major parties hold conventions this summer. Chicago hosts the Democratic National Convention in August.
“I have argued elsewhere that we are very likely to see political violence across the spectrum in this election cycle,” said Jacob Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Obviously, this is the most serious incident so far. But I don't think there's any, any reason to believe that this will be the last violence that we see.”
VOA’s Katherine Gypson and Marko Protić contributed to this report from Washington. Bill Gallo reported from Seoul.
