WASHINGTON — In an Oval Office address to the nation Sunday night, President Joe Biden urged Americans to unify following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies, we’re neighbors, we’re friends, co-workers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together,” Biden said.
The speech was only the third time the President has spoken from the Oval Office to the nation but this one came at a shocking time for the country with just four months until the 2024 election.
Oval Office addresses to the nation are usually given under the highest consequence, typically war or major announcements.
Six minutes into his remarks, Trump reached for the side of his face as popping sounds rang out. Secret Service quickly huddled around the former president for several minutes. Trump raised a fist into the air as blood was streaming down his face before he was quickly escorted into a vehicle, walking off the stage with agents on all sides.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence — for any violence, ever. Period. No exceptions,” Biden said. “We cannot allow this violence to be normalized.”
Biden continued: “Whether it’s with members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th or a brutal attack on the spouse of the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation and election officials or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump.”
During his inaugural address in 2021, Biden called on Americans to “end this uncivil war that pits red against blue.” However, on this night, his words took on a much more personal meaning.
The assassination attempt on Trump has put the President in an interesting spot. Biden has shown a measure of compassion that Trump has had trouble displaying ever since he entered the political arena back in 2015. The Biden campaign pulled down its advertising and the President called Trump last night and the two briefly spoke.
“Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers,” Biden said earlier Sunday.
As he closed his address, Biden called on Americans to use their vote as their weapon in November — not bullets.
“In America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box,” he said. “You know, that’s how we do it at the ballot box, not with bullets. The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin.”
