World leaders on Sunday expressed outrage over the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, who was shot and wounded during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The former White House resident was hit in the right ear. The suspected shooter and a bystander were killed, and two others were seriously injured.
“Everyone must condemn” the shootings, said U.S. President Joe Biden, who spoke with his rival in November’s presidential election that evening. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, world leaders spoke out against political violence and sent their support to the victims.
Europe “dismayed”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the attack. “Once again, we are witnessing unacceptable acts of violence against political representatives.”
New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled”. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
His Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban sent “thoughts and prayers” to Donald Trump “in these dark hours”.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “following with apprehension” the situation in Pennsylvania and wished the former American president a speedy recovery, hoping that “dialogue and responsibility can prevail over hatred and violence” during this election period in the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his “dismay” and wished Donald Trump a “speedy recovery.” “Such violence has no justification and no place in this world. Violence must never prevail.”
An “unacceptable act”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has “unequivocally” condemned the assassination attempt against Donald Trump and sent “his best wishes for a speedy recovery to President Trump.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote that he and his wife Sara were “shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump.”
“We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
Argentine President Javier Milei, for his part, blamed the “international left” and its “harmful ideology.” “Fearing losing the elections, they resort to terrorism to impose their retrograde and authoritarian program,” he said.
Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for his part, called on defenders of democracy and political dialogue to “firmly condemn” the attack on Donald Trump.
The Costa Rican government denounced an “unacceptable act”. “As leaders of democracy and peace, we condemn all forms of violence.”
Chilean President Gabriel Boric also condemned the shootings. “Violence is a threat to democracies and it weakens living together. We must all reject it.” “Despite our deep ideological and political differences, violence, wherever it comes from, must always be rejected by everyone,” Bolivian President Luis Arce said.
Modi ‘very worried’
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for “standing firm in the face of any form of violence that challenges democracy,” also wishing Donald Trump a “speedy recovery.”
His Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said he was “very concerned”. “I strongly condemn this incident. Violence has no place in politics and in democracies. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “worrying,” expressing relief that Trump was safe. “There is no place for violence in the democratic process.”
Comments echoed by neighbouring New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon: “No country should have to face such political violence.”
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed his “sincere condolences” to the victims, saying in turn that “political violence in all its forms (was) never acceptable in our democracies.”
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