Bay Area and state political leaders expressed alarm Saturday after former President Donald Trump was shot and wounded at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump was in the middle of remarks to the crowd when suddenly he appeared to wince in pain and put his hand to his right ear. He dropped to the stage as several loud pops could be heard and was swiftly tackled by his Secret Service detail. Moments later, a bloodied Trump stood and pumped his fist as he was hustled away to his motorcade.
The FBI confirmed Saturday that the suspected shooter was killed by police. One member of the crowd was fatally shot and two injuries were reported.
In an official statement released Saturday evening, President Joe Biden reacted to the shootings: “I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
“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.
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Outrage and prayers
The news of the assassination attempt reverberated across the nation, including in the Bay Area where local leaders took to social media with statements condemning the violence and sending prayers for Trump and those attending the rally.
“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society,” said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, whose husband was attacked by a conspiracy theorist with a hammer in their home in 2022.
“I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” Pelosi said in a statement. “As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former President’s rally today are unharmed.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed Pelosi.
“Violence has NO place in our democracy,” Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement. “My thoughts are with President Trump, and everyone impacted at the rally today.”
“Political violence has no place in our democracy,” U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, said in a statement. “I condemn this shooting, and am grateful for first responders, Secret Service and law enforcement.
“I wish former President Trump (and others shot) good health and a fast recovery,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, said he was “absolutely appalled by the gunshots fired at Donald Trump.”
“Violence is never acceptable in our democracy,” Khanna said in a statement. “I pray he was not seriously hurt and for our deeply divided nation.”
U.S. Senate candidate and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, who has frequently been at odds with the former president and served as the manager of Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2020, said in a post on X that he was “horrified by this apparent assassination attempt.”
“There is no place for political violence in our democracy,” Schiff said in his statement. “Absolutely none. Grateful for the swift response by law enforcement and Secret Service. Wishing President Trump a swift recovery.”
‘Deeply grieved for our nation’
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said that while more information is needed, “one thing remains clear: Gun violence of any kind is unacceptable.
“I unequivocally condemn today’s act of political violence against the former president, and I am grateful to hear he is safe,” Thompson said in a press release. “My thoughts remain with the former president and those in attendance. I urge my colleagues who are speaking out in horror to join the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in its efforts to pass the commonsense laws that help prevent these threats.”
State Assemblymember Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, said she was “grateful for the rapid response of the public safety personnel today and deeply grieved for our nation at this moment.
“Political violence has no place in our democracy and I denounce it in the strongest of terms,” she said in a statement. “The United States of America is the oldest democracy in the world, and we must maintain it through the ballot.”
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, a Republican candidate for California’s 9th Congressional District, said his “thoughts and prayers” were with Trump and his family.
“We extend our heartfelt support to him and his loved ones during this challenging time,” Lincoln said in a statement. “May they find strength, comfort, and a swift recovery in the outpouring of well-wishes from across the nation.”
Bay City News staff writer Pete Young contributed to this story.