Biden says he spoke with Trump after rally shooting: ‘No place in America for this kind of violence’

Joe Biden said that that there was “no place in America” for the sort of political violence that saw a gunman open fire on Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania and plunge America’s already fractious election campaign into new levels of fears over political unrest.

“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,” Biden said. “Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now. Unity. We’ll debate and disagree, that’s not going to change, but we’re not going to lose sight of who we are as Americans.”

Biden delivered the remarks at a White House press conference and described how he spoke with his bitter political rival who survived the assassination attempt with a head injury. One rally goer was also killed and two others injured.

“Last night I spoke with Donald Trump,” said Biden, who noted the conversation was brief. “Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers.”

He also mentioned the victim who was killed in the shooting, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore.

Biden continued that he has supported providing Trump’s campaign with the necessary secret service and security resources and directed the head of the US Secret Service to review all security measures for this week’s Republican National Convention in Milkwaukee, Wisconsin. The convention will nominate Trump as Biden’s opponent in November’s presidential election.

Biden has been in the midst of pushing back against calls to step aside as the Democratic nominee by some Democratic elected officials and wealthy campaign donors, including actor George Clooney, following his poor performance during the first presidential election debate against Trump.