'Appalled By Shocking Scenes': World Leaders Condemn Political Violence After 'Assassination' Bid on Trump

World leaders spoke out against political violence and reacted with shock after US presidential candidate Donald Trump was wounded at a rally shooting in Pennsylvania, in an alleged assassination attempt that also left a bystander dead and two other spectators critical. Presidents and prime ministers expressed their support for those affected by the shooting on Saturday (July 13).

Trump, who is the Republican candidate, was shot in the right ear and rushed off stage by the Secret Service with blood running down his face. The attacker was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service.

Newly elected UK PM Keir Starmer said he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies,” he said.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, condemned the attack. “Once again, we are witnessing unacceptable acts of violence against political representatives,” the bloc’s top diplomat said.

A close ally of the US, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife Sara “were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump”. “We pray for his safety and speedy recovery,” he wrote on social media platform X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said political violence is “never acceptable”. “I’m sickened by the shooting at former President Trump. It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable. My thoughts are with former president Trump, those at the event, and all Americans,” Trudeau said on social media platform X.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “following with apprehension” updates from Pennsylvania and wished Trump a speedy recovery. The right-wing leader expressed her hope that “in the following months of the electoral campaign, dialogue and responsibility can prevail over hate and violence”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned by the attack on my friend.” “Violence has no place in politics and democracies,” he said.

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida also spoke out against political attacks, saying “we must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy”.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te offered his “sincere condolences” to the shooting victims. “Political violence of any form is never acceptable in our democracies,” he said.

Australia’s Anthony Albanese described the shooting as “concerning and confronting”, expressing his relief that Trump was safe. “There is no place for violence in the democratic process,” the prime minister said.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Luxon echoed such views, writing “no country should encounter such political violence.”

From the Americas, Argentina’s President Javier Milei was among the first to react to the shooting. He blamed the “international left” after the assassination attempt. “In panic of losing at the polls, they resort to terrorism to impose their backward and authoritarian agenda,” said the populist president.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the shooting “must be strongly condemned by all defenders of democracy and political dialogue”.

Costa Rica’s government condemned the attack and said it was following updates on “this unacceptable act”. “As a leader in democracy and peace, we reject all forms of violence,” the presidency said.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric expressed his “unqualified condemnation” of the shooting. “Violence is a threat to democracies and weakens our life together. We must all reject it,” said Boric.

In Bolivia, President Luis Arce said “despite our deep ideological and political differences, violence, wherever it comes from, must always be rejected by everyone.”

Back home, US President Joe Biden led the condemnation following by shocked reactions from political leaders on both sides of the aisle. The president spoke with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy, the White House said.

Biden, who was scheduled to be in Delaware for the weekend, changed his plans to return to the White House. He earlier said “everybody must condemn” the suspected assassination attempt. Addressing the nation about two hours after the shooting, he said: “We cannot allow this to be happening. The idea that there’s violence in America like this is just unheard of.”

(With agency inputs)