iTV.ge | “We must lower the political temperature”

Joe Biden has appealed to the American people over the assassination attempt on former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. In a statement recorded in the Oval Office, the president called on Americans to reject political violence.

“We need to lower the political temperature,” Biden said. “We cannot allow this kind of violence to become the norm. The political rhetoric in our country has become extremely heated. It’s time to calm it down. It’s up to all of us to do so.”

Biden said politics should be “an arena for peaceful debate” and violence is never the answer.

“In America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box. Now is the time to do it. At the ballot box. Not with bullets,” Biden said in remarks that lasted about seven minutes.

The president wished Trump a speedy recovery and praised 50-year-old firefighter Corey Compator, who died protecting his family from bullets at one of Trump’s rallies, as a hero.

Two more people were wounded by bullets at the Trump rally – 57-year-old David Deutch and 74-year-old James Koppenhaver. Both of them are in hospital in critical condition. Trump himself was slightly injured: according to preliminary data, the bullet was just a few millimeters away from the former president’s head and hit his ear.

Biden also noted that U.S. intelligence agencies have not yet reached any specific conclusions about the attackers’ motives.

The FBI said Trump was shot by Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 70 kilometers from Butler, where the attack took place.

In his speech, the president seemed to suggest that in the absence of reliable facts, many false claims and conspiracy theories have begun to circulate on the internet.

“We still don’t know what the shooter’s motive was. We don’t know what his views were or who he supported. We don’t know if he had any help or support from anyone, if he had any connections to anyone,” Biden said.

Earlier, the FBI said that according to preliminary information, the suspect acted alone and law enforcement agencies have not yet determined whether he is affiliated with any ideology.

Biden told reporters before his Oval Office address that Trump’s security would be beefed up. He also pledged to step up security for the Republican National Convention, which begins on Monday and will see Trump formally nominated as president.

However, the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for the security of current and former U.S. presidents, said “no operational changes are anticipated” for its work at the Republican convention.

Biden also called Trump to express his condolences over the assassination attempt. Sources told The Wall Street Journal that the call was “brief and respectful.”

It was only the third time Biden has delivered an Oval Office address during his presidency. Such speeches are relatively rare and usually address the most serious incidents.

Biden made such a call last October after Hamas attacked Israel, and previously in a June 2023 address to the nation asking Congress to approve raising the U.S. debt ceiling.

Trump calls for national unity

Meanwhile, Donald Trump gave his first interview since the assassination attempt, telling The Washington Examiner that he decided to rewrite the text of his upcoming convention speech to focus on national unity rather than criticism of Biden.

“The speech I’m going to give is going to be a bombshell,” Trump said. “If that doesn’t happen, you’re going to see one of my most incredible speeches,” he added, explaining that he wanted to talk primarily about the shortcomings of Biden’s policies.

“It would be a completely different speech now, to be honest with you. It was an opportunity to unite the country. They gave me that opportunity,” the former president said.

He also admitted that he was “now beginning to realize” the reality of what happened to him on Sunday.

Trump has arrived in Milwaukee (Wisconsin), where the conference is being held.