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MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN
Biden calls to ‘cool down’ rhetoric & says politics shouldn’t be a ‘killing field’ after Trump shot by wannabe assassin
Their remarks came after witnesses described how a cop confronted the shooter but then retreated
DONALD Trump has insisted he wants to unite the country - hours after President Joe Biden urged for a cooldown in politics, saying they shouldn't be a "killing field."
The political rivals have both called for unity after a gunman killed a Trump rally attendee and wounded three others, including Trump, in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.
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“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” Trump said in an exclusive interview with The New York Post late Sunday night.
Sporting a bandage on his ear where he was wounded, he insisted he wanted to continue his speech at the rally on Saturday after being shot but Secret Service agents told him it was too dangerous.
Trump also signaled a change in tune after his brush with death.
He said he scrapped a speech he planned to give at the Republican National Convention on Thursday.
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“I had all prepared an extremely tough speech, really good, all about the corrupt, horrible administration,” he told The Post.
“But I threw it away.”
Trump said he is reworking his remarks "to try to unite the country," but said, "I don’t know if that’s possible. People are very divided.”
The former president even hinted at a change in approach when it comes to his campaign for president in the 2024 election.
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He said the back-and-forth between him and Biden will be more civil and even called his political rival "very nice," when speaking about a phone call the two shared after the shooting.
BIDEN URGES CALM
Earlier on Sunday, in only the third speech given from the Oval Office during his presidency, Biden spoke to the American people in a 9-minute speech, echoing earlier calls for peace.
Trump rally victim named as former fire chief Corey Comperatore as family say he died shielding daughter from bullets
"My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics," he said.
"Do remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies. We’re neighbors, we’re friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together.
“Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy,” Biden continued.
Differing opinions aside, the president said politics should never turn into "a killing field."
His speech came after it emerged that a cop reportedly confronted the gunman, Thomas Crooks, on the roof before the shooting but retreated after Crooks pointed his rifle at him.
Crooks then shot at Trump, hitting him in the ear, and killed a former fire chief before he was shot dead by the Secret Service.
Two other rally attendees were left in critical condition.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence. Any violence. Period. No exceptions," Biden said on Sunday night.
"We cannot allow this violence to be normalized."
Biden concluded his speech by urging Americans to work together and treat "everyone with dignity and respect."
As Biden spoke at the White House, Trump landed in Wisconsin ahead of next week's RNC.
"Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers," Biden said from the Roosevelt Room.
TRIBUTES TO 'HERO' FIRE CHIEF
The president paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief for Buffalo Township, who was identified as the victim who died while protecting his daughter from gunfire.
"He was a father, protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired. He lost his life. God love him," Biden said, adding that he is praying for the full recovery of the two others injured.
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The president went on to call on the American people to unite, saying there is no place for such violence in the country.
"An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation - everything," Biden said.
"It's not who we are as a nation. It's not American and we cannot allow this to happen.
"Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is important than that right now.
"We will debate and will disagree, that's not going to change. But we're not going to lose sight in fact who we are as Americans."
What we know so far:
- A shooter opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, killing one, critically injuring two others, and wounding the former president
- Dramatic footage showed the moment Trump dove behind his podium as Secret Service agents rushed to protect him
- The FBI confirmed it was an assassination attempt, but said there was no prior threat
- Trump broke his silence with a statement describing the shooting - after a bullet struck his ear and left blood pouring down the side of his face
- A microphone captured the moment Secret Service agents screamed "Get down!"
- The shooter - identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks - was shot dead by Secret Service agents at the scene
- A witness claims he warned police about the man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before the attack
- President Joe Biden dubbed the shooting "sick" and suspended campaigning for the next two days
Trump echoed the call for unity, writing on his social media platform Truth Social, "UNITE AMERICA!"
On Saturday after the shooting, Trump described being grazed by a bullet as the wannabe assassin opened fire.
"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," he wrote.
"Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
REVIEW OF SECURITY
During his earlier address, Biden announced he directed the Secret Service to provide Trump with "every resource capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety."
He said he also told the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures related to the Republican National Convention set to begin on Monday.
The president also ordered an independent review into the national security at the Saturday rally "to assess exactly what happened."
Biden said the results of the review will be made public.
What we know about the Trump rally shooter
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was identified as the gunman who opened fire during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, killing one person and injuring three others including the former president.
- Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022
- He received a "star award" of $500 from the National Math and Science Initiative at his graduation
- Classmates of his have claimed he was bullied in school and often wore "hunting" clothing to class
- Others revealed that he never "outwardly spoke" about political views in school
- Some classmates said Crooks had a few friends, but not a large friend group
- He was registered as Republican in Pennsylvania and last voted in November 2022 during the midterms.
- In January 2021, Crooks made a $15 donation to Democratic action group ActBlue.
- He was reportedly seen acting "suspiciously" before the assassination.
- The gun used in the shooting was legally purchased by his father at least six months ago.
- Explosives and bomb-making materials were found in his home and car parked near the Trump rally
- Crooks was shot and killed by Secret Service snipers on a nearby roof shortly after he opened fire at the rally
- Photos appear to show Crooks wearing gray camouflaged clothing at the time of the shooting
RALLY HORROR
Just minutes after the former president took the stage on Saturday evening, gunfire erupted and Trump was seen grimacing and holding his ear before he dropped to the floor for cover.
Trump later revealed in a post to Truth Social that he was struck in the ear by a bullet.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was "neutralized" by Secret Service snipers just moments after the shooting began.
Crooks was perched on an adjacent rooftop near the rally around 200 feet from the Republican crowd.
Just minutes after Trump began speaking, video showed around five gunshots being fired into the open-air rally.
Dramatic images showed members of the Secret Service swiftly rushing the stage to create a human shield around Trump.
After a few moments, the former president was seen standing up and raising his fist.
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Blood was seen dripping down his face as he shouted "fight" several times before being escorted off the stage.
MYSTERY MOTIVE
The FBI is now working to determine why Crooks targeted Trump.
The 20-year-old was reportedly registered as a Republican voter but made a $15 donation on President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day in 2021 to the liberal ActBlue political action committee.
Classmates described him as a loner who was barred from joining his high school's rifle club because he was an extremely poor shooter.
Jameson Myers, who was close with the gunman in elementary school, said Crooks tried out for the rifle team freshman year but didn't make the roster.
"He didn't just not make the team, he was asked not to come back because how bad of a shot he was, it was considered like, dangerous," he said.
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Despite being an outcast, Myers said Crooks was a "nice kid who never talked poorly of anyone."
Cops are now searching his home as they try to piece together what motivated him to try to kill Trump.
Donald Trump Rally Shooting Timeline
Donald Trump was shot at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
1pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5pm.
4:11pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:30pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
6:03pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:11pm: Gunshots were fired as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe.
7:24pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials.
8:42pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured.
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Biden addressed the nation
Biden addressed Americans Sunday night, one night after a shooting took place at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The presidential candidate sustained an injury while one attendee died and two were left in critical condition.
- Biden called for peace in Sunday night's speech
- The president said, "There is no place in America for this kind of violence"
- Biden urged citizens to tone down political rhetoric
- Earlier Sunday afternoon, Biden detailed the steps the government was taking following the shooting
- Biden said he directed the Secret Service to provide Trump with "every resource capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety"
- He also said he directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures related to the Republican National Convention set to begin on Monday
- Finally, the president revealed earlier that he has directed an "independent review" into the national security at the Saturday rally "to assess exactly what happened"