Leaders from across the globe expressed denunciation of "violence" but many expressed personal wishes for Donald Trump's recovery, too, after a 20-year-old suspect attempted to kill him at a campaign rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.
One bystander was killed, another injured, before Secret Service snipers killed the suspect, who was shooting from a nearby building, dead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned by the attack on my friend.”
"Violence has no place in politics and democracies," he added. "Wish him speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people.”
Outgoing NATO SecretaryJens Stoltenberg, always the alliance salesman, said “allies stand together to defend our freedom and values."
“I wish him a speedy recovery and my thoughts are with those affected. I condemn this attack"
The Russians and Slovakian President Robert Fico appear to be the only international voices so far injecting political implications into the Trump assassination attempt, suggesting the former president was targeted by his political opponents. As of Sunday morning there has been no evidence brought to light to explain the suspected shooter's motives.
"The atmosphere around candidate Trump … provoked what America is confronting today,” charged Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin.
“After numerous attempts to remove candidate Trump from the political arena – using first legal tools, the courts, prosecutors, attempts to politically discredit and compromise the candidate – it was obvious to all outside observers that his life was in danger.”
He was careful to say, however, that “we do not believe that the attempt to eliminate and assassinate Trump was organized by the current authorities." Fico, who recently survived his own assassination attempt had this to say: "It's a carbon copy of the script. Trump's political opponents are trying to shut him down. When they fail, they incite the public until some poor guy takes up arms."
Meanwhile, both traditional allies of Trump and those who have been wary over his potential return, weighed in, mostly expressing 'shock' at the situation. Newly minted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally and offered Trump his “best wishes.”
China said it is watching for developments and President Xi Jinping expressed his “compassion and sympathy” to Trump, according to a spokesman.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the shooting “must be strongly condemned by all defenders of democracy and political dialogue.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife "pray for (Trump's) safety and speedy recovery.” Meanwhile, the leader of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, offered these words: “We condemn this act of terror and reaffirm the positions of the State of Palestine, which has always rejected violence, terrorism, and extremism, regardless of its source."
Ukrainian President Zelensky, who has a fraught relationship with Trump to say the least, gave a full throated expression of goodwill. "I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery. My condolences go out to the close ones of this attack’s victim, a rally attendee. I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this."
Screengrab via niacouncil.org
Screengrab via niacouncil.org
