President Biden on Sunday demanded a “thorough and swift” investigation of how a gunman managed to shoot at former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally and pledged to share the results of the independent review with the American public.
He also directed the Secret Service to review all security for the Republican National Convention before it starts Monday. He will also deliver another White House address to the nation at 8 p.m. Sunday.
“Last night, I spoke with Donald Trump. I’m sincerely grateful that he’s doing well and recovering,” Mr. Biden said at the White House. “We had a short but good conversation.”
“An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation,” Mr. Biden said. “We cannot allow this to happen.”
The FBI said Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire on Mr. Trump at a Saturday rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, from the roof of a building less than 150 yards from the event stage while Mr. Trump was speaking.
A man in the crowd was killed and two other rally-goers were critically injured, the Secret Service said. The gunman was quickly shot and killed by Secret Service agents.
Mr. Biden also offered prayers for the family of the 50-year-old man who died in the shooting, noting he was a father who tried to shield his family.
Authorities said they don’t know what motivated Crooks, who lived south of Pittsburgh and was a registered Republican, yet made a small donation to a liberal group in 2021.
“Don’t make assumptions about his motives or affiliations. Let the FBI do their job,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Biden will no longer travel to Texas on Monday as planned. He was scheduled to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
The Biden team is putting campaign ads and other activities on hold in the aftermath of the shocking shooting.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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