Biden calls on Americans to 'lower the temperature in our politics' in wake of Trump assassination attempt
In an Oval Office address to the nation Sunday night, President Joe Biden repeated calls for unity that he's made since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday evening.
"My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies, we’re neighbors, we’re friends, co-workers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together," he said, in only the third such speech in his presidency.
"Yesterday's shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are, how are we go forward from here. Thankfully, former Trump is not seriously injured," he continued.
"Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know: a former president was shot, an American citizen killed, while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing," referring to the spectator killed. "We cannot, we must not go down this road in America," he said.
"Violence has never been the answer," he said, "whether it's with members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th or a brutal attack on the spouse of the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation and election officials or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump."
He continued, saying, "in America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box. You know, that's how we do it at the battle box, not with bullets. The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin."
Earlier Sunday, Biden said, "Last night I spoke with Donald Trump. I am sincerely grateful that he’s doing well, and recovering. We had a short but good conversation. Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers," he said, speaking about the assassination aftermath before reporters gathered the White House Roosevelt Room.
"An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as -- as a nation, everything. It's not who we are as a nation. It's not American. And we cannot allow this to happen," he continued.
"Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is important than that right now, unity. We’ll debate and we’ll disagree, it's not-- that's not going to change. But it's going to -- we're going to not lose sight of the fact who we are as Americans," he said.
He cautioned against speculation about the shooter's motive, saying it wasn't yet known.
And he said he had ordered an independent review of how security was handled at the political rally in Pennsylvania amid congressional Republican demands for investigative hearings.
He ended by saying he would speak to the nation Sunday night and the White House said afterward his address from the Oval Office would take place at 8 p.m. ET.
Biden, who was flanked by Garland, Mayorkas and Vice President Kamala Harris, did not take questions.
He had been briefed shortly before in the White House Situation Room by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI director Christopher Wray, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle.
The White House posted a photo of the briefing on X.
Biden has had to tread carefully since news of the Trump shooting first broke because not only is he president -- but also a candidate and Donald Trump's political opponent.
He must show he's in command of the crisis as well amid growing questions about his mental and physical fitness for the job.
Informed shortly after the shooting happened, he initially put out a statement -- after some basic facts became known -- saying he was "grateful" that Trump was "safe."
He then made hastily arranged remarks to reporters and the nation on live television -- saying he had tried to phone the former president -- whom he notably called "Donald" -- condemning the attack and calling for unity.
"There's no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country," he said.
"But the idea, the idea that there's political violence or violence in America like this, is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate. We – everybody, everybody must condemn it," he said.
He then quickly changed plans and flew back from Delaware to the White House.
When he arrived at Joint Base Andrews, it was notable how close Biden’s top Secret Service agent was to him as he stepped off Air Force One, staying just a few steps away as the president walked down the steps.
Typically, Biden makes it to the bottom of those steps before his security detail steps off the plane.
Lafayette Park, directly in front of the White House, remained closed Sunday morning as the Secret Service posture was notably heightened around the White House.
Sunday afternoon, the White House said said Biden was rescheduling his planned Monday trip to Austin, Texas, where he was set to deliver the keynote address at a commemoration for the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Presidential Library.
