After what the FBI called an apparent assassination attempt against former U.S. President Donald Trump, there was widespread condemnation of political violence as well as calls for tighter security.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is opposing Trump in the November presidential election, said in a statement she was “deeply disturbed” by the incident Sunday at a Florida golf course.
“We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” Harris said.
Republican Senator Tim Scott said, “Political violence has absolutely no place in the United States of America.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said his state would conduct its own investigation of the incident, saying people “deserve the truth about the would-be assassin” and how he was able to get so close to Trump.
The Secret Service came under scrutiny after Trump was shot in the ear during a July campaign rally.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking U.S. Republican, raised similar questions Sunday.
"There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida,” Stefanik said.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna called the two assassination attempts against Trump “unacceptable” and said the Secret Service “must come to Congress tomorrow, tell us what resources are needed to expand the protective perimeter, and let’s allocate it in a bipartisan vote the same day.”
Republican Representative Darrell Issa had a similar message.
“I’ve seen enough. If Congress has to force the Secret Service to protect Donald Trump, that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.
Trump, in a message on his Truth Social site late Sunday, thanked the Secret Service and local police for keeping him safe.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that his administration will “continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety.”
Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said political violence “has no place in a civilized society.”
“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe and that the alleged perpetrator is in custody. He should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Jeffries said.
Concerns about Sunday’s incident also came from overseas.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters he was worried about news of the apparent assassination attempt.
“I think it is really important that we're all very, very clear that violence has no part to play at all in any political process,” Starmer said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was glad to hear Trump was not harmed.
“This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world. We sincerely hope that everyone remains safe,” Zelenskyy said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the people of Israel send best wishes to Trump “following the second assassination attempt on his life recently.”
“We must strongly condemn any attempts to impose political views through threats and violence - political violence must never undermine the American people's right to freely and democratically choose their path,” Katz said.
Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
