United Nations, July 14. Many top world leaders have condemned the deadly attack on former US President Donald Trump during an election rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, “The Secretary-General condemns this political violence in the strongest terms. He wishes former President Donald Trump a speedy recovery.”
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had a narrow escape on Saturday when he was shot at in an election rally. The bullet grazed his ear and killed two people present at the event.
Many world leaders have expressed anger against this attack on social media and condemned this political violence. Some have also termed it an “attack on democracy”.
US Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on her X handle, “I have learned about the shooting at former President Donald Trump’s event in Pennsylvania. (My husband) Doug and I are relieved that he has not suffered any serious injuries. We are praying for him, his family and all those who have been injured and affected in this shooting.”
“We are grateful to the US intelligence services for being the first to act and to local authorities for their immediate action,” he said.
Harris condemned the attack, saying, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. We must all condemn this despicable act and do our part to ensure it does not lead to more violence.”
Former US President Barack Obama said, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should feel relieved that former President Donald Trump has not suffered any serious injuries, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. (My wife) Michelle and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi also expressed grief over the incident and wished Donald Trump a speedy recovery. She wrote in a post on Twitter, “As someone whose family has been a victim of political violence, I know that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Donald Trump is safe.”
Nikki Haley, who challenged Donald Trump in the primaries, said in a post on X, “This should horrify every freedom-loving American. Violence against presidential candidates should never be considered normal. We pray for Donald Trump, the entire Donald Trump family, and everyone in attendance.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed grief over the attack and said political violence has no place in society. He said in a post on Instagram, “I am shocked by the shocking scenes at former President Donald Trump’s rally, and we send our best wishes to him and his family. Political violence in any form has no place in our society. My condolences are with all the victims of this attack.”
Hungarian President Viktor Orban, one of Donald Trump’s closest Western allies, posted: “My thoughts and prayers are with the President at this sad time.”
Another right-wing politician, Argentine President Javier Maielli, blamed the “international left” for the attack. “In their panic of losing elections, they resort to terrorism to implement their backward and authoritarian agenda,” he wrote.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giordano Meloni, a far-right leader, expressed “apprehensions” and wrote that she hoped “dialogue and responsibility will prevail over hatred and violence during the electoral campaign.”
The Prime Minister of Canada, a US neighbor, Justin Trudeau posted, “I am saddened by the shooting of former President Donald Trump. This cannot be overstated. Political violence is never acceptable.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, “We must stand firmly against any form of violence that challenges democracy. I pray for former President Donald Trump’s speedy recovery.”
“The attack on former president Donald Trump must be strongly refuted by all defenders of democracy,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva posted.
Writing on behalf of himself and his wife, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted, “Sara and I are shocked by the direct attack on former President Donald Trump. We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese wrote that the incident at the election rally was “worrying and challenging. There is no place for violence in the democratic process.”
“Violence threatens democracy and undermines our lives. We must all reject it,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font wrote.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol condemned the attack as an “appalling act of political violence” and wished Donald Trump a speedy recovery.
“I am shocked by the horrific political violence. I wish former President Donald Trump a speedy recovery. The people of Korea stand with the people of the United States,” Yun wrote on his official X handle.
