Biden says that "We must unite as a nation"

On Sunday, President Joseph R. Biden (D) spoke with reporters in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump (R) in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.

"Last night, I spoke with Donald Trump," said President Biden. "I am sincerely grateful that he is doing well and recovering. We had a short but good conversation. Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers."

"We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed," Biden continued. "He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired."

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has identified the victim as 50-year-old former firefighter Corey Comperatore. Comperatore was a Trump supporters who was was there with his wife and two daughters. When he became aware of shots being fired, Comperatore dove over his family them to protect them and took a fatal shot to the head in the process.

"Corey died a hero," Governor Shapiro said. "Corey was the very best of us, may his memory be a blessing,"

Two other Trump supporters were seriously wounded. Both are in critical condition.

"We are also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured," Biden added. "As I said last night there is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter. An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. Everything. 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 more important than that right now. Unity," said President Biden. "We'll debate and we'll disagree, that's not going to change. But we'll not lose sight of who we are as Americans."

Biden said that he was just briefed in the Situation Room and will continue to be briefed.

"The FBI is leading this investigation which is still in its early stages. We don't yet have any information about the motive of the shooter," said Biden. "We know who he is. I urge everyone, everyone please, don't make assumptions about his motives or affiliations. Let the FBI do their job and their partner agencies do their job."

The FBI has identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He was immediately killed by the Secret Service after firing eight rounds from an "AR-style rifle."

Crooks made a $15 donation to Democrat supporting PAC Act Blue in 2021. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.

"I've instructed that this investigation be thorough and swift," said Biden. "As this investigation continues, here's what we're going to do. First Mr. Trump as a former president and nominee of the Republican Party already receives a heightened level of security. And I've been consistent in my direction of the Secret Service to provide him with every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety. Second, I've directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures, all the security measures for the Republican National Convention which is scheduled to start tomorrow. And third, I've directed an independent review of the national security at yesterday's rally to assess exactly what happened."

Some members of Congress were already calling for an investigation of what and have already expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of security protecting Trump on Saturday.

Crooks scaled a building just 130 yards from President Trump in order to fire. Why there was an unsecured rooftops so close to the pre-planned rally and why there were no unmanned aerial vehicles or helicopters protecting the President's perimeter is a concern that some have voiced.

"The assassination attempt on President Trump and murder of an innocent American demands immediate answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Secret Service," said U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida). "It is a miracle that President Trump is alive and well but absolutely inexcusable that the deranged would-be assassin had a direct line of sight to the former president and the leading candidate for President of the United States. The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) has an oversight responsibility and an obligation to the American people to demand answers from DHS and the U.S. Secret Service on how this happened and what steps are being taken to investigate this assassination attempt and make sure it never happens again. Chairman Gary Peters must immediately hold a HSGAC hearing, before August 1st, with testimony from these agencies and deliver the answers that we as U.S. Senators and the American people demand and deserve from our government. The security of our Republic is being questioned and we as a nation need answers."

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) shared Sen. Scott's post.

"We will share the results of that independent review with the American people as well," said President Biden. "And finally, I'll be speaking more about this tonight at greater length from the Oval Office."

Biden called on the nation to unite in the wake of this tragedy.

"We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are," concluded President Biden.

Trump was hit in the ear. Had the bullet been an inch and a half to the right he probably would have died. Trump realized that a bullet had just whizzed by his head and immediately ducked. Secret Service agents flung themselves on the President. When they stood up – after the gunman had been killed – Trump pumped his fist to the crowd to let them know that he was OK.

The FBI reports that the shooter's car was rigged with an improvised explosive device at the scene. Explosives and bomb making materials were found at the shooter's home. The rifle was purchased by Crooks' father.

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