‘It’s time to cool it down,’ Biden warns of election-year rhetoric after Trump rally shooting

The shooter’s motive, political affiliation remain unknown as authorities continue their investigations

US President Joe Biden said political differences ought to be resolved at the ballot box instead of with bullets in his address to the nation following the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. – Facebook pic, July 15, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – It is time to cool down political rhetoric in the United States, US President Joe Biden said during remarks on the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump.

“The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It’s time to cool it down,” Biden said on Sunday.

Political differences ought to be resolved at the ballot box instead of with bullets, Biden said.

On Saturday, a gunman shot Trump in the right ear, killed one bystander, and injured two others during a campaign event in Pennsylvania. 

Meanwhile, earlier today, Biden spoke about an ongoing investigation.

“We do not know the motive of the shooter yet,” Biden said in a Sunday address to the nation. 

“We don’t know his opinions or affiliations. We don’t know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else.”

The FBI is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.

Authorities located explosives in the car driven by the 20-year-old man they say attempted to assassinate Trump as he was holding a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, according to multiple reports published Sunday, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Investigators found two explosive devices in Thomas Matthew Crooks‘ vehicle and a potential third bomb at his home, the New York Times reported. 

Other news outlets also reported on the discoveries, but differed on the total number of explosives and whether they constituted bombs or were bomb-making materials.

Crooks was fatally shot by a Secret Service agent after he opened fire from what the agency said was an elevated position outside of the field where Trump was addressing his supporters ahead of November’s national election. 

The FBI on Saturday identified Crooks as the suspected shooter. – July 18, 2024