Stephen Moore, a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s campaign, has spoken to the BBC World Service programme “Weekend”. He is echoing concerns about the preparedness of the Security Service, who are the primary form of protection for former US presidents.
Moore said:
It appeared from the video that he’d only been grazed by this bullet but what is so frightening to all of us is that if that bullet had been one inch further towards his head this would have been an assassination …
Certainly Trump needs more protection – there is a lot of inquiry now about whether the Secret Service was totally prepared.
The attack on Trump raised questions about how the Republican presidential candidate is protected on the campaign trail and what caused the apparent security lapses at Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
At least one person interviewed by the BBC (see post at 01.36) said he had tried to alert police and the US Secret Service, to no avail, to an apparent sniper climbing on to a nearby roof outside the security perimeter of the rally venue.
Both Spain’s prime minister and its king have offered Donald Trump and the US their support and best wishes.
“I strongly condemn the attack on Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania,” the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, wrote on X. “Violence and hatred have no place in a democracy. I send my best wishes for ex-President Trump’s recovery and to the rest of those who were injured. I also offer my deepest condolences to the family of the person who died.”
In a letter, King Felipe said he was deeply struck by what had happened and wished Trump a speedy recovery, adding: “I would also like to express, to all the dear people of the USA, my strongest condemnation of any act of violence, especially when directed against democratic values.”
Here is some more reaction from world leaders after the assassintion attempt on Donald Trump:
Sweden’s pime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said: “Sweden condemns the terrible attack in Pennsylvania. My thoughts go out to those who have been affected and to their families. Sweden stands behind the United States and wishes Donald Trump a speedy recovery.”
The president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said: “We are following with concern the treacherous incident faced by former US President and presidential candidate Donald Trump, and affirm Egypt’s condemnation of the incident. I express my wishes for President Trump’s speedy recovery and for the US election campaign to continue in a peaceful and healthy environment, devoid of any appearances of terrorism, violence or hatred.”
South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, wrote on X: “I am appalled by the hideous act of political violence. I wish former President Trump a speedy recovery. The people of Korea stand in solidarity with the people of America.”
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said she is following the news from Pennsylvania with “apprehension” and extended her best wishes for a “speedy recovery” to Trump.
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof wrote on X: “Shocked by the attack on former President Donald Trump. Luckily he has gotten away only lightly wounded. Political violence is completely unacceptable.”
Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, said the attack was a “shocking” moment for the “whole free and democratic world”.
Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, wrote on X: “I am appalled to learn of the shooting incident during former President Trump’s rally. We are strongly concerned and do not tolerate such forms of violence. On behalf of the Thai people, I wish former President Trump a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are also with the injured and affected families.”
Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr said: “It is with great relief that we receive the news that former President Donald Trump is fine and well after the attempt to assassinate him. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Together with all democracy loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence. The voice of the people must always remain supreme.”
Anthony Albanese says he is “relieved” that former US president Donald Trump is safe after a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, calling the incident an “inexcusable attack”, my colleague Josh Butler reports.
The Australian prime minister said there was “no place for violence in the democratic process” as other politicians decried the assassination attempt four months out from the US presidential election (see earlier post at 04.47 to see how other world leaders have reacted to the attack).
Drawing a link to protests outside politicians’ electorate offices in Australia regarding the Gaza war, Albanese said on Sunday:
These things can escalate, which is why they need to be called out unequivocally and opposed.
The Oversight Committee in the Republican-led US House of Representatives has summoned the US Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, to testify at a hearing scheduled for 22 July.
“Americans demand answers about the assassination attempt of President Trump,” the panel said in a statement on X, noting that Cheatle’s appearance is voluntary.
The Secret Service has agreed to brief the House Oversight Committee about the attack, a spokesperson told The Hill.
The assassination attempt on Trump was the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of former Republican president Ronald Reagan, who was in the White House from 1981 to 1989.
It raised immediate questions about security failures by the Secret Service, which provides former presidents, including Trump, with lifetime protection.
Who was the suspected shooter?
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the suspect in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
State voter records show that Crooks was a registered Republican, Reuters reported.
When Crooks was 17 he made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises money for left-leaning and Democratic politicians, Reuters wrote citing a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing.
The donation was earmarked for the Progressive Turnout Project.
Crooks graduated in 2022 from Bethel Park High School and received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, has said “violence is never the answer to political differences in a democracy.”
“I am sure this is one thing we can all agree on without any shadow of doubt,” he added.
Here are the latest images from the US, as an investigation continues into the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister who was injured in a shooting in May, has drawn a parallel between the incident targeting him and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Scripted like through a copybook. Political opponents of D. they are trying to shut Trump up and when they don’t work out, they piss the public off so much that some loser picks up a gun. And now we shall witness speeches about the need for reconciliation, appeasement and forgiveness.
China has expressed concern about the shooting, Reuters reported.
“President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to former President Trump,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Source: US Politics - theguardian.com
