World leaders condemn shooting at Trump rally, denounce political violence

WASHINGTON, USA – Various world leaders on Saturday, July 13, condemned the attack on Donald Trump a rally in Pennsylvania in which the former president was shot in the ear, expressing shock, denouncing political violence and wishing him a quick recovery.

The Trump campaign said later that Trump, who is running again for the White House in November’s US election, was “doing well.” The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the “subject involved” in what it termed an attempted assassination.

A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the shooting and called it an “act of political violence.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said there was “no justification” for such violence and he was “relieved” that Trump, who has frequently criticized US military aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, was safe and wished him “a speedy recovery.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the shooting was “concerning and confronting,” while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it left him “sickened.” Trudeau added. “Political violence is never acceptable.”

Similar comments were also made by the leaders of the European Union, Egypt, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and the Philippines.

“It is a tragedy for our democracies,” French President Emmanuel Macron said of the shooting. “France shares the shock and indignation of the American people.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said the shooting left him shocked. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met Trump this week while visiting the US for a NATO summit, said his prayers were with the former president “in these dark hours.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called the shooting unacceptable while also urging others to condemn it.

“The attack against former President Donald Trump must be vehemently repudiated by all defenders of democracy and dialogue in politics. What we saw today is unacceptable,” the Brazilian leader said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Trump a friend and wished him a speedy recovery while saying: “Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies.” – Rappler.com