Former President Donald Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday after an attempt on his life injected fresh uncertainty into an already tumultuous presidential campaign.
At the same time, President Joe Biden implored Americans to “cool it down” in the final stretch and “resolve our differences at the ballot box.”
The opponents’ statements followed an attack that shook the firmament of the American political system.
It is causing at least a temporary detente in a heated presidential campaign expected to resume again in earnest amid the pageantry of the upcoming Republican National Convention.
A full day after the shooting, the gunman’s motive remained a mystery, with investigators saying they believe he acted alone before Secret Service agents fatally shot him.
Biden ordered an independent security review of the attack, which killed a bystander, critically wounded two others.
The attack prompted questions about how a gunman was able to open fire from a rooftop near a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
The FBI was investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear.
His aides said he was in “great spirits” and doing well. He arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday evening for the convention, which begins Monday.
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The Republican candidate told the Washington Examiner that he had rewritten his speech for the event to focus more on national unity than on the policies of Biden.
In a post-Sunday on his social media site, Trump said it was more important than ever that US stand United.
“Weshpuld show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
In a prime-time address, Biden urged the public to recommit to civil debate.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence — for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception,” he said. “We can’t allow this violence to be normalised.”
Trump, on Saturday night, spoke briefly with Biden, whose Sunday night speech marked his third time addressing the shooting.
The rallygoer who was killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the area, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who said Comperatore “died a hero.”
“His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.
The two wounded bystanders were listed in stable condition. (AP News)
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