REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Joe Biden said on Saturday that “everyone suspected attempted murder about former president Donald Trumpand said he hopes to speak with his rival for the 2024 presidential election soon.
Biden addressed the nation about two hours after the shooting, saying he was relieved that Trump was reportedly “doing fine.” He said he had not been able to reach Trump before his remarks and promised to update the public later Saturday on whether they would speak to him, as well as additional details about the investigation.
“We cannot allow this to happen,” Biden said. “The idea that there is violence like this in America is just unheard of.”
Biden said, without an autocue, that he was waiting for additional information before officially calling the attack an attempted assassination of the former president.
“I have an opinion, but I don’t have facts,” he told reporters, promising to provide updates as he knows more.
The president spoke from the emergency briefing room at the White House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is set up when the president is traveling so he can deliver speeches to the nation within minutes. He spent the weekend at his beachfront home and was at a nearby church for Mass when the shooting occurred.
Biden received an “initial briefing” from aides after leaving the church, minutes after the shooting, and then gathered security officials for a more in-depth update from U.S. Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Following the shooting at Trump’s rally, the Biden campaign said it was halting all messaging to supporters and working to stop all TV ads as quickly as possible, the campaign said.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that she had also been briefed, adding that she and her husband were “relieved” that Trump was not seriously injured.
“We are praying for him, his family and all those injured and affected by this senseless shooting,” she said.
