House Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego Sends Letter to Secret Service Director
WASHINGTON – September 14: Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., descends the House steps after the final vote of the week at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Arizona Democratic Rep. and Senate candidate Ruben Gallego sent a letter to U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Shettle after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last night.
“This was a security failure of the highest order, the likes of which we have not seen since the attempted assassination of President Reagan,” Gallego wrote. “This cannot happen, and I demand accountability.”
Gallego raised several questions he wanted answers to, including who approved the security plan and whether surrounding buildings had been properly assessed for threats.
— Jake Piazza
White House: Biden-Trump phone call was 'good, brief, respectful'
Joe Biden and Donald Trump 2024.
Evelyn Hochstein | David Swanson | Reuters
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump spoke briefly by phone Saturday evening in a rare one-on-one conversation.
A White House official described the phone call to NBC News as “good, short and respectful.”
This was the first time the two candidates had spoken to each other since their presidential debate on June 27.
Earlier that evening, Biden gave a brief speech to cameras in Delaware, condemning political violence, before heading to Washington.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It is sick. It is sick,” Biden said Saturday.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Mike Pence says he's grateful for Trump's safety, condemns political violence
Former U.S. Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate Mike Pence speaks during his campaign launch event at the Des Moines Area Community College FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa, on June 7, 2023.
Stephen Maturin | AFP | Getty Images
Former US Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife “thank God” for Donald Trump's safety and sent their condolences and support to the victims and their families.
He expressed his gratitude for the “quick response” by the Secret Service, which he added “undoubtedly saved lives.”
“Political violence has no place in America and must be condemned globally,” he added.
Pence was one of several government officials targeted by armed rioters during the deadly attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, which Pence has partly blamed on Trump for inciting.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Authorities say two victims remain in hospital.
A person is removed from the stands by state police after Republican candidate Donald Trump was shot at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.
Rebecca Druk | AFP | Getty Images
More than 12 hours after the shooting, two victims remain in critical condition at a local hospital, authorities and a hospital spokesman said.
The names of the victims have not been released, and it was not clear Sunday morning when officials would provide another update.
One person at the rally died at the scene, and the gunman was killed by law enforcement.
— Jake Piazza
House Speaker Johnson blames campaign rhetoric: 'We can't go on like this'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, holds a news conference at the Capitol Visitor Center after the House Republican Conference meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed inflammatory political rhetoric for Saturday's assassination attempt on U.S. President Donald Trump and said Congress was launching a full investigation into the incident.
“We can't continue this way as a society. Everyone has to tone down the rhetoric,” Johnson said in an interview with NBC's “Today” show.
He pointed to President Joe Biden's campaign rhetoric, including his remarks on a call with private donors in which Biden said, “It's time to put Trump in the bull's eye.”
“I know he (Biden) didn't mean what was implied there, but that kind of language from either side needs to be called out,” Johnson said.
He said Congress plans to conduct a full investigation into the shooting, to answer questions about any potential security lapses and “anything else the American people need to know.”
“There are more questions than answers this morning,” he added.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Trump says he's ready to speak at Republican National Convention
A post on former US President Donald Trump's Truth Social website, after a shooting attack at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Jack Silva | Light Rocket | Getty Images
Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he looks forward to addressing the country at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin this week.
The former president also thanked the public for their support and sent his condolences to the shooting victims and their families.
“We will not be afraid, but will stand firm in our faith and stand united in the face of evil. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families,” Trump wrote. “I truly love our country, and I love all of you, and I look forward to speaking to our great nation this week from Wisconsin.”
The Republican National Convention is scheduled to be held in Milwaukee from Monday to Thursday.
A senior Republican official involved in the planning told NBC News on Sunday that Saturday's assassination attempt on Trump would not change the structure of the Republican National Committee.
The official added that the shooting and Trump's survival might add more emotional intensity to the conference, but the basic plan would not change.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Secret Service denies claims Trump was denied extra security protection
U.S. Secret Service agents surround former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Evan Fauci | AP
The Secret Service has denied rumors that it has turned down Donald Trump's requests for additional security resources.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the idea that the Trump team asked for more security and was denied was “completely false.”
“In fact, we have added resources, technologies and protective capabilities as part of the increased pace of travel for the campaign,” Guglielmi wrote in a social media post.
In preparation for more travel and events during the campaign, Trump's team has bolstered its Secret Service detail with more agents and special teams, an official told NBC News in May.
— Rebecca Picciotto
