Leaders around the world have condemned the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump on Saturday and expressed concern for him.
The Republican presidential candidate was at a rally in Pennsylvania when shots were fired and he was injured in the right ear.
The FBI has named 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the man suspected of carrying out the gun attack. He has been killed.
US President Joe Biden – Trump’s political opponent – called the attack “sick”, saying “there’s no place for this kind of violence in America”.
But reaction and condemnation poured in from further afield too.
“It is a tragedy for our democracies,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
“France shares the shock and indignation of the American people.”
He also wished the former president a “speedy recovery”, a sentiment shared by a number of leaders, including those from Spain, Ireland, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Honduras and Israel.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said his thoughts were with Trump and all those at the event, adding: “Political violence is never acceptable.”
As well as the suspected gunman, one spectator has also died and two others are critically injured.
The UK’s newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent the former president his best wishes and said his thoughts were with all the victims of the attack.
Similarly, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his thoughts were with all those affected, and called the attack “despicable”.
“Such acts of violence threaten democracy,” he added.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated the condemnation expressed by her various counterparts, adding: “Peace and democracy must always be the option.”
In a social media post, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote: “My thoughts and prayers are with President @realDonaldTrump in these dark hours.”
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The right-wing premier has recently been on a whirlwind two-week tour that concluded with a visit to Trump, whom he strongly backs to win again in November.
Nations across the Asian continent also sent messages, including Japan, the Philippines, Pakistan and Taiwan.
Indian Prime Minister Nahendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned” by the attack on his friend and condemned it.
Meanwhile, China’s President Xi Jinping “expressed his condolences” in a statement from an official spokesperson, which added China was “concerned” about the shooting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: “Russia always denounced and categorically denounces any displays of force in a political battle.
“We express condolences to the family of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”
Mr Peskov added that the US had a repeated history of similar violence during “political battles”.
To date, the US has lost four presidents to assassinations, while others have been targets of attempted attacks.
… Tinubu says violence has no place on democracy
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu strongly condemned the attack on Donald Trump, describing it as “distasteful” and “beyond the pale of democratic norms”.
In a reaction placed on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, President Tinubu expressed his sympathies to the former President and wished him relief.
He also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and those wounded, praying for their quick recovery.
The President reiterated that “violence has no place in democracy” and affirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with the United States during this challenging time.
“The attack on former President Donald Trump is distasteful and goes beyond the pale of democratic norms. Violence has no place in democracy.
“I extend my sympathies to the former President and wish him relief. I also condole with the family of the deceased and those wounded and wish them a quick recovery.
“Nigeria stands in solidarity with the United States of America at this time”, the statement”, the President said.
