Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt this Saturday, July 13, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The former White House resident was hit in the right ear. The alleged shooter and a spectator were killed, and two others were seriously injured. Quickly after this attack, world leaders stood up against political violence and sent their support to the victims.
French President Emmanuel Macron sent his “wishes for a speedy recovery” to Donald Trump on X this Sunday. “An activist has died, several are injured. This is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people,” he wrote. The head of the ultraconservative Italian government Giorgia Meloni also sent “her solidarity” to Donald Trump, as well as “wishes for a speedy recovery, with the hope that the coming months of the electoral campaign will see dialogue and responsibility prevail over hatred and violence.”
Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, condemned the attack and regretted being “once again, […] witnesses to unacceptable acts of violence against political representatives.” The new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said he was “appalled”: “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
“Such violence has no place in this world”
His Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, who was in Miami (United States) a few days ago to meet him, sent “thoughts and prayers” to Donald Trump “in these dark hours”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his “consternation” and wished Donald Trump a “speedy recovery”. “Such violence has no justification and no place in this world. Violence must never prevail,” he said.
This assassination attempt was obviously commented on by Joe Biden, the former president’s opponent in the race for the White House. “Everyone must condemn” these shootings, he declared. While Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has defenders of democracy and political dialogue to “strongly condemn” the attack, Argentine President Javier Milei has blamed the “international left” and its “harmful ideology”. The leaders of Costa Rica, Chile and Bolivia have also brought a message of support to Donald Trump.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for “standing firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy,” also wishing Donald Trump a “speedy recovery.” “I strongly condemn this incident,” said his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. “Violence has no place in politics and in democracies. We wish him a speedy recovery.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “worrying,” expressing relief that Donald Trump was safe. “No country should face such political violence,” said neighboring New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote that he and his wife Sara were “shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump”: “We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”