Trump shooting prompts Democrats to dial back campaign trail attacks

Following the assassination attempt that almost claimed former President Donald Trump’s life, Democratic leaders are tamping down their harshest criticism against their arch-rival, instead shifting focus to condemning the shocking act of political violence that unfolded at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on Saturday.

“The Biden campaign is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible,” a White House spokesperson said.

The about-face comes after the Biden campaign compared the former president to Adolf Hitler, and President Biden himself was quoted as saying it was “time to put Trump in a bullseye” with regards to the campaign messaging.

Speaking to reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Del. on Sunday, President Biden said “there is no place in America for this kind of violence,” saying of the shooting that nearly killed his opponent, “it’s sick. It’s sick.”

Everything we know about the Trump assassination attempt

20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
Trump exclusively recounted surviving the “surreal” assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act.”

The White House said Biden spoke to Trump Saturday evening, the president living up to his kinder, gentler messaging pledge that same day in a message of well-wishing for his opponent.

“I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” Biden wrote on X.

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety,” Biden said reiterating that America has “no place” for the kind of horrendous violence witnessed in Butler, Pa.

“We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” he said.

Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “horrified” by what unfolded at the rally, where a bloodied Trump shook off his security detail to defiantly wave his fist at the crowd yelling “fight, fight, fight” before being whisked to safety.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed gratitude for the Secret Service for protecting the 2024 GOP standard bearer, while offering his “thoughts and prayers” for the former president.

“Political violence of any kind is never acceptable,” he added.

Soon after the shocking shooting, authorities identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who was shot and killed by Secret Service agents seconds after he squeezed off 6-7 rounds, winging former President Trump’s ear and fatally striking Corey Comperatore, a local hero volunteer fire chief.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Democrats have faced a surge criticism from Republican lawmakers over the steady ratcheting up their anti-Trump rhetoric.