President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined other world leaders yesterday to condemn the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump at an election rally.
Tinubu, in a statement on his verified X handle, described the incident as”distasteful,” adding that it “goes beyond the pale of democratic norms.”
“I extend my sympathies to the former president and wish him relief,” he added.
Other world leaders and governments, who reacted with shock to the assassination attempt, spoke against political violence and expressed their support for those affected by Saturday’s shooting, which killed one bystander and left two other spectators critically wounded.
Europe
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was “deeply shocked” by the attack.
“Political violence has no place in a democracy,” she said.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called the shooting “despicable” and said “such acts of violence threaten democracy.”
In neighboring France, President Emmanuel Macron called the assassination a “tragedy for our democracies.
“France shares the shock and indignation of the American people,” said Macron.
Russia called on the United States to “take stock” of its “policies of incitement to hatred,” while using the assassination attempt to denounce Washington’s military support for Ukraine.
“Perhaps it would be better to use this money to fund the American police and other services that are supposed to ensure law and order in the United States?” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “appalled to learn about the shooting” and wished Trump a “speedy recovery.”
“Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail,” he said.
Americas
Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, blamed the “international left” after the assassination attempt.
“In panic of losing at the polls, they resort to terrorism to impose their backward and authoritarian agenda,” said the populist president.
Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said the shooting “must be strongly condemned by all defenders of democracy and political dialogue.”
Chilean President, Gabriel Boric, expressed his “unqualified condemnation” of the shooting.
“Violence is a threat to democracies and weakens our life together. We must all reject it,” said Boric.
Colombia expressed its “solidarity with the United States at this difficult time.”
“As a country that has suffered from violence, we reaffirm that it has no place in the political and electoral debate,” the government said.
In Bolivia, President Luis Arce said “despite our deep ideological and political differences, violence, wherever it comes from, must always be rejected by everyone.”
Asia Pacific
China’s Xi Jinping expressed his “compassion and sympathy” for Trump, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying Beijing was “closely following” the incident.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said he was “deeply concerned by the attack on my friend.”
“Violence has no place in politics and democracies,” said Modi.
Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, also spoke out against political attacks, saying “we must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.”
Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, offered his “sincere condolences” to the shooting victims.
“Political violence of any form is never acceptable in our democracies,” he said.
Philippine President, Bongbong Marcos, said it was “with great relief that we receive the news that former President Donald Trump is fine and well after the attempt to assassinate him.”
“Together with all democracy-loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence. The voice of the people must always remain supreme,” Marcos said.
Middle East
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he and his wife Sara “were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump”.
“We pray for his safety and speedy recovery,” Netanyahu said.
Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, described the shooting as a “treacherous incident.”
Sisi wished the US “election campaigns to continue in a peaceful and healthy atmosphere, free of any manifestations of terrorism, violence or hatred.”
Africa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the attempt served as “a stark reminder of the dangers of political extremism.”
“Political violence is the antithesis of democracy,” he wrote on social media platform X, wishing Trump a “speedy recovery.”
“We unequivocally denounce this political violence and earnestly hope that the citizens and leaders of America will have the fortitude and sagacity to reject violence and seek peaceful solutions.”
Trump urges Americans to unite after assassination attempt
Meanwhile, Donald Trump yesterday called on Americans to stand united after he was injured in an assassination attempt – a shocking incident that opened a dark new chapter in an already polarized US presidential race.
The 78-year-old former president was hit in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the shooter and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured in the worst act of US political violence in decades.
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social network, adding that Americans should not allow “Evil to win”.
The Republican added that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening” and that he would “FEAR NOT”.
The gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about an hour’s drive from the rally site, according to an FBI statement early yesterday.
His motive remains unknown.
US President Joe Biden was getting a fresh briefing later yesterday at the White House on the assassination bid against his rival in November’s tense election.
The 81-year-old Democrat has called the attack “sick” and spoke to Trump afterwards. He also cut short a weekend at his vacation home and flew back to Washington to deal with the crisis. Trump’s wife, Melania, said the gunman was a “monster,” who had attempted to silence her husband’s “laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration.”
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