“There is no room for this kind of violence in America,” Biden said during a speech at the Rehoboth Beach Police Department in Delaware. “This is terrible. … This shouldn’t happen. We cannot tolerate this.”
Biden, the leading Democratic candidate to face Trump in November’s general election, said he didn’t have all the details about others in the audience who may have been injured. Asked if he believed the shooting was an assassination attempt, Biden said, “I have an opinion, but I don’t have all the facts.”
Biden, who is spending the weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, said Trump’s rally “could have been peaceful and without any problems.”
He said he returned to his cell phone to get the latest report from the federal agency.
According to White House reports, Biden spoke with Trump later in the evening.
Trump posted on his Truth Social network that he was shot in the upper right ear, speaking about the shooting for the first time since Secret Service agents escorted him away from the campaign event.
“I heard the whoosh and the gunfire, felt the bullets cutting through my skin and immediately knew something was wrong,” he wrote.
President Trump thanked law enforcement officers for their “quick response to this shooting incident.” He also offered condolences to the families of the one killed and one wounded. He said the identity of the gunman who died was unknown. A second rally attendee was also wounded, according to the Secret Service.
“I cannot believe this kind of behavior could occur in our country,” he wrote.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York Dakota said on social media that he was sending his “thoughts and prayers” to Trump.
“I appreciate the decisive response from law enforcement. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never tolerated,” he posted on X.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) also thanked law enforcement and offered prayers.
“This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful election rally will not be tolerated.
“What is happening in this country should be unanimously and strongly condemned,” Johnson said. Tweeted.
“We are relieved that no one was seriously injured,” Vice President Harris said.
“We are praying for him, his family, and all those injured and affected by this senseless shooting,” she posted on X. “…We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to prevent this from leading to further violence.”
A Biden campaign spokesman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the plans, said the team is “working to pull the TV ads as quickly as possible.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the shooting “despicable.”
“All Americans are grateful tonight that President Trump appears to be safe after this despicable attack on a peaceful rally,” he said. Tweeted“We appreciate the swift response of the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said he was “relieved” that Trump had been declared safe.
“I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe,” Schumer wrote on X. “Political violence has no place in our country.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland said multiple federal law enforcement agencies are investigating the deadly shooting and that the Justice Department will have “no tolerance.”
“My heart is with the former president, those injured and the families of those killed in this horrific attack,” Garland said in a statement. “The Department of Justice will pursue this investigation with all available tools.” A special counsel appointed by Garland has filed two federal charges against Trump for election interference and mishandling classified information.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was “shocked and saddened by the shooting.” In a post on Twitter, he called on Americans to condemn such violence.
Trump’s three running mates praised the Republican front-runner on social media, each sharing an image of a bloodied Trump with his fist raised in the air in the aftermath of the shooting.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, said at the X that he was praying for Trump, his family and those attending the rally.
“We all know President Trump is stronger than his opponents,” Burgum said. “Today, he proved that.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) posted that he was praying for Trump and those attending the rally, adding that “God protect President Trump.”
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) criticized the Biden team for portraying Trump as a dictator who “must be stopped at all costs.”
“Those comments directly led to the assassination attempt on President Trump,” Vance said on X.
Donald Trump’s children were quick to respond to the news of the shooting at their father’s rally on social media, with his eldest sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump posting photos of their dad and calling him a warrior.
“He will never stop fighting to save America,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote.
Ivanka Trump wrote to X that she was grateful to the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift action.
“I will continue to pray for our country,” she wrote. “Dad, I love you now and always.”
The Rev. Jack Graham, a Texas pastor, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and informal adviser to President Trump, said in a statement Saturday night that he was thanking God “for protecting President Donald Trump.” Graham offered a prayer for Trump, his family and the nation.
“At a time like this, we are not Democrats or Republicans,” Graham said. “We are Americans praying against the evil acts of darkness.”
All former presidents have had lifelong Secret Service protection and praised the agents’ response.
Republican President George W. Bush called the shooting a “cowardly act.”
“Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following this vile attack,” he said on X.
Bill Clinton, whose wife Hillary Clinton ran against Trump in 2016, said he was “grateful that President Trump is safe and my heart goes out to all those affected by today’s attack at his rally in Pennsylvania and I am grateful for the swift action of the United States Secret Service.”
Trump also received an endorsement from billionaire tech executive and owner of X, Elon Musk, shortly after the shooting. Musk, who criticized security measures at the rally, said on X that he wished Trump a speedy recovery and likened the Republican front-runner to President Theodore Roosevelt.
Kelsey Baker, Michelle Borstein, Faiz Siddiqui and Ben Brush contributed to this report.
