On July 14, 2024, President Biden spoke in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, calling for a calming of political rhetoric.
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President Joe Biden spoke from the Oval Office on Sunday, denouncing political violence and saying an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was needed to cool down the country’s heated political rhetoric.
“I want to talk to you tonight about our need to lower the political temperature,” Biden said. “We are neighbors, friends, colleagues, citizens. Most importantly, we are fellow Americans and we must stand together. ,” Biden said.
Biden outlined the point, from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to attacking former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband and intimidating election officials: “We cannot allow this violence to be normalized,” Biden said. “I believe politics should be an arena for peaceful debate.”
“Our politics must not become a real battlefield,” he said. “We resolve our differences at the ballot box, not with bullets.”
The assassination attempt on former President Trump is under investigation as Trump prepares to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
On Saturday, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks allegedly opened fire on Trump at a political rally for the former president in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one person.
Trump said a bullet penetrated the top of his right ear.
Biden capped the day with a speech in the Oval Office on Sunday night, where information was revealed about Crooks and his victims, one of whom was killed.
FBI officials described Crooks as a lone gunman with no apparent political ideology. At the Capitol, the shooting prompted greater scrutiny of the Secret Service and whether it was doing enough to protect Trump, but also sparked broader concerns about political violence.
Biden has ordered an independent review of national security measures taken at Trump rallies and has pledged to publicly release the findings.
Increased security at Republican National Committee convention
The Trump campaign says security is being increased around the Republican National Convention, which opens in Milwaukee on Monday. The Republican National Committee, already a highly secure event, is drawing guests from across the country to take part in the formal process of nominating former President Donald Trump as the Republican presidential candidate.
Trump arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday after saying threats to his life the day before would not delay his plans.
“Based on yesterday’s horrific events, I was going to postpone my trip to Wisconsin and the Republican National Convention by two days, but I just decided that I can’t allow a ‘shooter’ or potential assassin to force a change in schedule, or whatever,” “Trump said in a post on “Truth Society.”
Trump is expected to accept his party’s presidential nomination and name his running mate Zhou at the event. He is scheduled to speak on Thursday.
After speaking briefly with Trump on Saturday night, Biden said he was “sincerely grateful that he is doing well and recovering.”
Biden also said he had ordered the Secret Service to provide Trump with “all resources, capabilities and protections necessary to ensure his continued security” and asked the Secret Service to review all security measures taken for the Republican National Convention.
City of Milwaukee, Secret Service and FBI officials said security plans for the Republican National Convention will remain unchanged.
“We do not anticipate any changes to our current security footprint or planning,” said Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, coordinator of the Republican National Committee for the U.S. Secret Service.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensler said the bureau was investigating rumors that had emerged since Saturday’s shooting, but said there were “no known explicit threats against the RNC or any attendees.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman reiterated that coordination is ongoing between city and federal officials. He said the police department was “very satisfied” with the current plan.
“We got this,” he said. Norman emphasized that the Police Department is committed to protecting not only convention attendees, but city residents as well. “This is our community, too,” Norman said.
How is the investigation going?
The FBI is investigating Crooks’ actions in the days and weeks before the shooting and is leading the investigation into the assassination attempt.
The bureau said it was investigating the incident as an “act of domestic terrorism” but had not determined the ideology associated with the shooter. Investigators said they believe he acted alone but have not determined a motive.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, said key evidence collected from the scene included a legally purchased AR-style 556 rifle and Crooks’ cellphone.
“Our main focus is on mobile phones, and we’re working hard to get access to them,” Rojek said.
Investigators said they have limited knowledge of Crooks’ recent communications.
Crooks’ family is cooperating with the investigation. His father purchased the weapon used in the attack, and investigators are looking into how Crooks obtained it.
Also being analyzed are devices found in Crooks’ car. FBI officials said the device was “rudimentary” in nature.
There was no indication Crooks had mental health issues, and investigators found no threatening language on his social media accounts.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was “grateful that former President Trump is safe after yesterday’s horrific assassination attempt.” FBI Director Christopher Wray called the attack “absolutely despicable.”
Congress investigates attack
An aide confirmed to NPR that Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, plans to launch an investigation into the assassination attempt. Peters also runs the Senate Democrats’ 2024 campaign.
The attack renewed concerns about threats to lawmakers.
House Republicans received a briefing from senior law enforcement officials on Capitol Hill on Sunday afternoon, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security issues. These agencies include the House Sergeant at Arms and the U.S. Capitol Police. Another source confirmed that House Democrats will receive a similar briefing on Monday at 2 p.m.
The briefings are part of broader concerns among lawmakers about increased threats to lawmakers, staff and their families. Since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the ongoing wave of threats that followed, Congress has been debating additional funding for member security.
other victims
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter from Sarver, Pa., was identified by state officials as the man killed in Saturday’s attack.
At a news conference, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he spoke with Competore’s wife, who described him as a “girl dad” and a weekly Firefighters who go to church. A man who loved community and family. Shapiro said Competore is an avid Trump supporter and “it was a pleasure to be with him in the community last night.”
President Biden expressed his condolences to the family, who said Competore died protecting them from bullets.
“He was a father who was protecting his family from gunfire,” Biden said. “He lost his life and God loves him.”
Two other Pennsylvania residents injured in the shooting – David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township – were hospitalized in stable condition Sunday.
NPR’s Carrie Johnson and Ryan Lucas contributed to this story.
