The political camps in the USA are deeply divided. The assassination attempt on Trump has confirmed fears of an escalation in the election campaign – President Biden is now planning a special appeal to the country.
US President Joe Biden wants to address the nation in a speech following the assassination attempt on his political opponent Donald Trump and call on the deeply divided country to stand together. “We must stand together as one nation,” Biden said at the White House and announced that he would address all citizens from the Oval Office on Sunday evening (Monday 0200 CEST).
Such speeches from the President’s office at the government headquarters are reserved for moments of crisis and major turning points in the country. That is exactly what the United States is dealing with at the moment.
“This is not America”
Biden once again strongly condemned the shooting of former president and current Republican presidential candidate Trump, who was slightly injured. The attack contradicts everything the United States stands for. “This is not America, and we cannot allow this to happen,” he warned during his brief appearance at the White House. There will always be debates and differences of opinion, but the country must never lose sight of what it stands for. “Unity is the hardest goal to achieve, but nothing is more important right now than that,” Biden warned.
A man shot the 78-year-old during a Trump campaign speech in the state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, wounding him in the ear. The perpetrator, a 20-year-old man from the region according to the FBI, was killed by security forces. There is no information yet on the motive, Biden said. Investigators assume that the perpetrator acted alone, as several media reported after a briefing.
The young man killed a firefighter and father who was attending the event as a spectator. Two other participants were seriously injured.
Great horror worldwide
Biden condemned the attack shortly after it happened. There is widespread horror around the world and, in the middle of the election campaign, it is fueling fears of a spiral of political violence in the USA. Trump wants to challenge the Democratic incumbent Biden in the presidential election on November 5. Several high-ranking representatives of both parties in the USA condemned the attack.
Many questions remain unanswered. According to media reports, investigators found bomb-making material on the perpetrator. There was also talk of explosive devices. This information has not yet been officially confirmed.
Security at Republican Party Convention
After the attack, the question arises as to whether the event and Trump were adequately protected. Biden announced an independent investigation to clarify what exactly happened. The public will be informed of the results.
The US President also instructed the Secret Service, which is also responsible for his own protection, to review the security measures for the Republican nominating convention, which begins on Monday. The Secret Service employee responsible for security at the convention, Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, later announced that the measures for the major event had not initially been tightened.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson does not see the possibility of banning weapons from the outdoor area of the Milwaukee venue as an additional precautionary measure. Carrying firearms is protected by state law, he said.
Trump shows no weakness
At the mega-event, Trump is to be officially chosen as the party’s presidential candidate later this week. After the attack, Trump is trying not to give the impression of weakness: He announced that he will be leaving for Milwaukee in the US state of Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon (local time). The party convention will take place there.
Trump wrote on the online platform Truth Social that he had initially considered postponing his trip by two days because of the “horrific events.” But he decided “that I cannot allow a ‘shooter’ or a potential assassin to force a change in schedule or anything else.”
Biden: Conversation with Trump short but good
Biden spoke to his opponent Trump on the phone after the assassination attempt. “I am sincerely grateful that he is well and recovering. We had a short but good conversation,” Biden said.
The political mood in the United States has been heated for years. At the beginning of the year, the US Department of Justice complained about a “deeply disturbing increase in threats” against officials and democratic institutions in the country.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
