WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden said on July 14 that he has asked for an independent review of security at the Pennsylvania rally where former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.
Speaking from the Roosevelt Room at the White House, the president said the FBI is conducting its investigation, which is still in its early stages, and urged people not to make assumptions.
“We don’t yet have any information about the motive of the shooter. We know who he is. I urge everyone, everyone, please don’t make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations,” the president said.
“I’ve instructed that this investigation be thorough and swift, and the investigators will have every resource they need to get this done.”
Authorities earlier identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the deceased shooter. The assailant shot multiple times from an elevated position near the rally site, according to the Secret Service, before he was killed by Secret Service agents.
President Biden said the assassination attempt was “contrary to everything we stand for as a nation.”
“It’s not who we are as a nation, it’s not America, and we cannot allow this to happen,” he said.
The president also directed the Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention, which begins on July 15 in Milwaukee. The former president is due to formally accept the nomination to run for a second term in the White House on July 18.
The president has postponed his July 15 trip to Austin, Texas, where he was scheduled to deliver remarks regarding the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
In addition, Vice President Kamala Harris postponed her planned campaign trip to South Florida on July 14.
President Biden said that he spoke with his predecessor last night after the incident, describing the call as “a short but good conversation.”
“I’m sincerely grateful that he’s doing well and recovering,” he said.
The president also offered his condolences to the family of the man who was killed. According to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Mr. Comperatore was killed while diving on his family to protect them.
“He was a father, he was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired,” the president said. “We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are.”
Before the speech, the president and vice president received a briefing in the White House Situation Room from homeland security and law enforcement officials.
