Australian politicians have condemned a second alleged assassination attempt on U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, with Housing Minister Clare O'Neil worried that it could impact Australia’s democracy.
The FBI has confirmed the former president has been the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in Florida on Sept. 15. It’s the second alleged attempt on the life of the former president after a bullet grazed his ear at a Pennsylvania rally two months ago.
O'Neil said the incident was “absolutely awful” and could potentially impact local politics.
“It worries me because America is such an important and powerful democracy, and it does affect us here in Australia,” she said. “We’re very lucky here, and I never want Australians to lose sight of that.”
She said Australia’s strict gun laws and a political culture where differences are resolved at the ballot box, rather than with violence contributed to the country’s stability.
“This is not the case in many countries in the world, and it’s something precious, and it’s something we’ve got to value,” O'Neil said. “It’s a little bit fragile at times, and we need to support it and protect it.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted, “The details of [the incident] are still coming out. So it’s not quite clear all of those details, but what is clear is that President Trump is safe. That is a good thing.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was relieved Mr Trump was not injured.
“This is another dreadful demonstration of potential political violence,” she said, adding that it has no place in any society—[it] certainly has no place in a democracy.”
A man was spotted pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope at Trump from roughly 400 metres away on the golf course, according to Florida authorities.
U.S. Secret Service agents fired at least four rounds at him. It’s believed he was able to flee the scene, but was later taken into custody by deputies on nearby Interstate 95, and the former president was confirmed to be safe and well.
