Former U.S. President Donald Trump has received an outpouring of support from leaders across the political spectrum around the world condemning the assassination attempt against him while he was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
Former President Trump’s right ear was pierced by one of the bullets, while a rally attendant was killed and two others seriously injured. The suspected shooter was killed by law enforcement officials.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was one of the first world leaders to express his condemnation of the attack against the former U.S. president.
“In any case, we condemn what happened to former President Donald Trump. Violence is irrational and inhuman,” he posted on X.
The UK’s new prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, posted on X that he was shocked by the attack.
“Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
Attendees scatter after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Penn., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the attack, saying on X, “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump. We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a post on X that he was “sickened” by the shooting.
“It cannot be overstated—political violence is never acceptable. My thoughts are with former President Trump, those at the event, and all Americans,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted a statement about the issue in the early hours of July 14, saying his thoughts are with former President Trump.
“I send him my wishes for a speedy recovery. A spectator has died, several are injured. It is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people,” Mr. Macron said on X.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent former President Trump his well wishes, saying, “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed relief that former President Trump was safe after the shooting.
“The incident at former President Trump’s campaign event in Pennsylvania today is concerning and confronting. There is no place for violence in the democratic process,” he said.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles said he was “shocked” by the news of the attack on former President Trump.
“Once again, we are witnessing unacceptable acts of violence against political representatives,” he said.
‘Speedy Recovery’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among the first European leaders to send their well wishes to former President Trump. She said on X that she was “following with apprehension the updates from Pennsylvania” where the former president was shot.
“My solidarity and my best wishes for a speedy recovery go to him, with the hope that the next few months of the electoral campaign will see dialogue and responsibility prevail over hatred and violence,” she said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the attack on the former president “despicable, and said such acts ”threaten democracy.”
“I wish him a speedy recovery. My thoughts are also with all of those who were affected by the attack,” Mr. Scholz said in a post on X in the early hours of July 14.
In South America, Argentine President Javier Milei, a like-minded leader often called the Trump of Argentina, condemned the shooting and wished a speedy recovery for former President Trump.
Argentine President Javier Milei speaks at CPAC at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 24, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“The desperation of the international left is not surprising, as today it sees its harmful ideology expire and is willing to destabilize democracies and promote violence to bring itself into power. In fear of losing at the polls, they resort to terrorism to impose their retrograde and authoritarian agenda,” Mr. Milei posted to X
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro expressed his support for former President Trump, his ally.
“Our solidarity is with the greatest world leader of the moment. We hope for your speedy recovery,” he said on X.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posted his own condemnation of the attack on X shortly after as well.
“The attack against former President Donald Trump must be vehemently repudiated by all defenders of democracy and dialogue in politics. What we saw today is unacceptable,” he said.
‘Shocked by the Events’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned by the attack” on former President Trump, calling him “my friend” and also wishing him a speedy recovery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people,” Mr. Modi said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “appalled” to learn about the shooting of former President Trump.
“I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery. My condolences go out to the close ones of this attack’s victim, a rally attendee,” he said on X.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te also extended wishes for a speedy recovery to former President Trump.
“My thoughts and prayers are with former U.S. President Trump and I wish him a swift recovery. Political violence of any form is never acceptable in our democracies. I offer my sincere condolences to the victims affected by the attack,” he said on X.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also condemned the violence.
“I’m shocked by the events at Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally today. My thoughts are with the former President, his family, and the victims of this attack. No country should encounter such political violence,” he said on X.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said his “thoughts and prayers” are with former President Trump, while Philippines President Bongbong Marcos said he is relieved that the former president is fine after the attack.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele “categorically” condemned the assassination attempt, while Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa expressed his “solidarity” with former President Trump and his family in the face of what happened. Meanwhile, Gabriel Boric Font, president of Chile, said that “violence is a threat to democracies and weakens our life together.”
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) embraces then-U.S. President Donald Trump upon his arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Feb. 24, 2020. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Chinese leader Xi Jinping also expressed sympathies to former President Trump, according to state media.
A ‘Whizzing Sound’
Former President Trump confirmed in a social media post after leaving hospital later Saturday night that a bullet had “pierced the upper part” of his ear.
He added that he “knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”
He expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased shooting victim.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured,” former President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., issued a statement on his father’s health, saying he is “in great spirits” after the incident. “He'll never stop fighting to Save America,” he added on X.
President Joe Biden has condemned the violent action, extending well wishes for a speedy recovery to his 2024 presidential election competitor.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick, it’s sick,” he said from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he is spending the weekend.
“It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country,“ he added. ”We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Frank Fang, Jack Phillips, and Emel Akan contributed to this report.
Melanie Sun
Author
Melanie is a reporter and editor covering world news. She has a background in environmental research.
