California political leaders reacted in shock to the news that former President Donald Trump was shot and wounded at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was one of the first Democratic leaders to express his condemnation of the attack against the former president.
“Violence has NO place in our democracy. My thoughts are with President Trump and everyone impacted at the rally,” Mr. Newsom wrote in a post on X.
The former president is safe after the assassination attempt, which occurred shortly after the rally began, but was injured when a bullet pierced his right ear.
He released a statement July 14 on Truth Social thanking Americans for their prayers, adding that “it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was named by the FBI as the suspect in the attempted assassination. Mr. Crooks—who fired from a nearby rooftop—was killed by the Secret Service.
Three other rally attendees were also shot, one fatally. Corey Comperatore, the sole slain victim, was a retired firefighter, father of two daughters, and a supporter of former President Trump, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a July 14 press conference.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also condemned the attack, and expressed relief and gratitude for the former president’s safety.
“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” Ms. Pelosi, whose husband Paul Pelosi was attacked in their home in 2022, wrote on X.
Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California attorney general and U.S. senator, said that she had been briefed on the incident and expressed relief that the former president was not seriously injured, adding that she and her husband are thankful for his safety.
“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she said Saturday on social media.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) reacted to the shooting as well, saying, “There is no place in our democracy for political violence.”
“I am keeping the former President and those attending his rally in my thoughts,” the senator said in an X post. “Grateful for law enforcement’s quick action to protect those in attendance.”
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), currently running to fill the Senate seat formerly held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein and now occupied by Sen. Laphonza Butler, also released a statement condemning the attack.
‘Praying for the Trump Family’
Steve Garvey, a Republican and former Dodgers star who is also running for the Senate seat, extended his well wishes to the former president.“My thoughts and prayers are with President Trump for a speedy recovery and with the families of the innocent rally supporters who were tragically affected,” he wrote on X.
Other Republicans also expressed outrage at the shooting, which took place just two days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Despite the incident, the Trump campaign confirmed that the former president will attend the convention as planned, where he will be formally nominated as the GOP’s presidential candidate.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican, said he was praying for former President Trump.
State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said in a post on X: “In America, violence has no place in politics. Political disagreements, even arguments, should exist in our democracy. For without disagreement, there is no democracy. And without democracy, there is no free nation.”
“I am praying for the Trump family and the families of attendees who were shot as well as loved ones impacted by today’s disturbing violence. I plea with Americans to take a step back and acknowledge the need for common ground, rather than seeing politics as a polarizing exercise,” he said.
Jessica Millan Patterson, chairwoman of the California Republican Party, said on X: “Please join me in praying for President Trump and praying for our country.”
‘Unacceptable and Tragic’
Local leaders also expressed their sympathy and solicitude for the former president.“What just happened today in Pennsylvania is unacceptable and tragic,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X. “Political violence has no place in our nation. I wish former President Trump a full recovery and my thoughts are with all of those impacted this evening.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn wrote on X: “While I don’t agree with his politics, I absolutely believe that former President Trump and all candidates have the right to safely campaign in public without fear of violence. It is a cornerstone of our democracy. Political violence has no place in the United States.”
Southern California law enforcement agencies were on heightened alert Sunday following the shooting, despite there being no known local threats.
“The LAPD is monitoring the shooting that occurred [Saturday] in Pennsylvania involving Former President Trump, and there is no known threat or connection to the City of Los Angeles,” Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi said in a statement posted on X.
“We are grateful to hear that Former President Trump is safe, and devastated to learn of innocent people attending being killed and others critically injured,” he said.
