World Leaders React to Shooting at Trump Rally: ‘Shocked’ at Assassination Attempt
World leaders have expressed shock and condemnation after a shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The former US president was attacked, and his condition is reported to be stable. One bystander was killed, and two others were critically wounded.
International Reactions
US President Joe Biden said he spoke with Trump on Saturday night, describing the conversation as “short and good.” Biden told reporters on Sunday, “An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation.”
Argentine President Javier Milei said the apparent assassination attempt showed the “desperation of the international left” and its willingness to “destabilize democracies and promote violence to screw itself into power.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the “inexcusable attack” on democratic values. He told reporters at the Australian Parliament House, “In Australia, as in the United States, the essence and the purpose of our democracies is that we can express our views, debate our disagreements, and resolve our differences peacefully.”
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the attack as “truly tragic.” “The United States, as a torchbearer for democracy in the world, how could such a thing happen there?” she asked.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the shooting during the campaign rally is unacceptable and must be “vehemently repudiated” by all defenders of democracy. His predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump, expressed solidarity with what he called “the world’s greatest leader of the moment.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his dismay at the shooting, saying his thoughts were with Trump, those at the event, and all Americans. “It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable,” he wrote.
Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement that President Xi Jinping has expressed sympathies to Trump and that China is following the shooting incident.
Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh “vehemently” denounced the “reprehensible and alarming assassination attempt” on Trump. He wrote, “Political violence is a grave threat to global stability, must be unequivocally condemned and outlawed.”
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi emphasized his country’s condemnation of the attack in a statement and wished for the U.S. election campaigns to resume peacefully.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he was deeply shocked by the attack targeting Trump. Abiy wrote, “I wish the American people a peaceful and democratic election season.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was deeply shocked by the shooting, adding that political violence has no place in democracy.
French President Emmanuel Macron sent his wishes to Trump for a speedy recovery. “It is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people,” he posted.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the attack was “despicable” and “such acts of violence threaten democracy.” He said his thoughts are with all those who were affected.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his shock at the attack on Trump. “Political violence is unacceptable in our democratic societies,” he wrote.
Jasem Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned the attempted assassination of Trump. In a statement, Al-Budaiwi said that under no circumstances are terror and violence acceptable, adding that the incident goes against human values, morals, and standards.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said his thoughts and prayers were with Trump “in these dark hours.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply concerned by “the attack on my friend.” “Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies,” he wrote.
Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” saying his thoughts are with the victims of “this senseless act of terrorism.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote that he and his wife were “shocked by the apparent attack” on Trump and prayed for Trump’s safety and speedy recovery.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella said in a statement the attack was a cause for serious alarm and “a disconcerting symptom of the deterioration of the civil fabric and of the dangerous refusal of confrontation, dialogue and respect for democratic life.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he prayed for Trump’s speedy recovery, adding, “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.”
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda strongly condemned the act of political violence. “It has no place in democracy,” he wrote.
Mexico’s outgoing president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, denounced the attack and said, “Violence is irrational and inhumane.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attempted assassination on Trump. On X, Stoltenberg said
