By Gary Fields, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic leaders, past and present, expressed shock Saturday night following the news that gunfire had broken out during a Donald Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania — and relief that the former president had survived the attack.

Notable officials, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, praised the fast action of the Secret Service and expressed gratitude that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee appeared to be OK.

“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. “As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former President’s rally today are unharmed.”’

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Pelosi’s husband was bludgeoned with a hammer in 2022 by a man who broke into their home.

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said he had spoken to his father on the phone and “he is in great spirits.” “He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him,” Trump Jr. said in a statement.

Obama, Trump’s immediate predecessor in the White House, shared the views of others who have held the presidency, writing on social media: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”

President Joe Biden said: “There’s no place in America for this type of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick.”

Bush praised the Secret Service for their “speedy response” to the violence. “Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life,” Bush wrote on X.

Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, blasted the violence in his home state.

“I am appalled and condemn in the strongest terms this violence in Butler,” he wrote on X. “I extend my condolences to those injured and wish a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Trump.”

At least one Republican House member, Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, laid the blame on Biden, saying, “The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, PA, should immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination.”

John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said violence of any sort “has no place in our political process.” He added that “this horrific act is another reminder that no one is immune from experiencing gun violence. When guns are everywhere, for anyone, with no questions asked — no one is safe. ”

Associated Press writers Hannah Schoenbaum, Stefanie Dazio and Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

By:  EMMANUEL ROY

Miami, Florida – Political violence is never acceptable no matter what the circumstance. But since 2016, this country has had to deal with political leaders who believe political violence is the solution. Hateful speech often leads to acts of violence because there are sick people who will act based on violent speech. You ripped what you sow, and it is hard for me not to remind readers that Donald Trump preached political violence, and when he had a chance to denounce it, he refused. Hopefully, he will take a different course this time. 

Despite Donald Trump’s proclivity for political violence, what happened in Pennsylvania was horrifying, to say the least.  When bullets started to fly, Donald Trump was eleven minutes into his speech at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.  Trump fell to the ground, seemingly injured, after the first pop of shots rang out.  Screams could be heard from the onlookers as security personnel surrounded the former president, leading him away from the lectern. 

Trump appeared to be calling out to the crowd and could be seen pumping his fist as he was brought to his feet and whisked away into a vehicle offstage.  The Secret Service said in a statement that Trump is “safe” and that the incident is being investigated.

It is not clear whether the shooter was aiming for Donald Trump. Was this a planned attack to take Donald Trump out? We may never know. We are told by the District attorney in Butler County, Pennsylvania that the shooter had been neutralized and one other person is dead. 
Leaders around the world posted their comments and messages of support for Donald Trump while condemning political violence. 

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was attacked in an apparent political violence, sent her wishes to President Trump.  The White House and several other elected officials sent their good wishes via X, formerly Twitter. 

Fox News wasted no time in claiming that the Democrats are trying to kill Trump after failing to imprison him.

However, what Fox News failed to take into account is that Donald Trump believes in political violence; he said once that his own vice president, Mike Pence, should be killed by the mob who took over the Capitol on January 6, 2020. 

Law enforcement in Butler, Pennsylvania, as well as the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are currently investigating the shooting, and when more information comes, this article will be updated.

By Will Weissert, Associated Press

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden said Saturday that “everybody must condemn” the suspected assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, adding that he hoped to speak with his 2024 presidential rival soon.

Addressing the nation about two hours after the shooting, Biden said he was relieved that Trump is reportedly “doing well.” He said he had been unable to reach Trump before his remarks and pledged to update the public later Saturday on whether they speak as well as additional details about the investigation.

“We cannot allow this to be happening,” Biden said. “The idea that there’s violence in America like this is just unheard of.”

Biden, speaking without a teleprompter, said he was waiting for additional information before formally calling the attack an attempted assassination on the former president.

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“I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts,” he told reporters, pledging to provide updates as he learns more.

The president delivered remarks from the White House’s emergency briefing room in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is set up whenever the president travels to allow him to deliver remarks to the country in a matter of minutes. He was spending the weekend at his beach home and was at a nearby church for mass when the shooting occurred.

Biden received an “initial briefing” from aides after he left church minutes after the shooting and then convened security officials for a more in-depth update from Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

After the shooting at Trump’s rally, the Biden campaign said it was pausing all messaging to supporters and working to pull down all of its television ads as quickly as possible, the campaign said.

Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that she was also briefed, adding that she and her husband “are relieved” that Trump was not seriously inured.

“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she said.

A press release has been issued from The White House in regards to the shooting that took place at a Pennsylvania rally for Donald Trump.

The release can be read below.

A statement released by President Joe Biden in regards to the shooting a Trump rally in Pennsylvania