President Biden delivered a rare Oval Office address on Sunday night, calling for national unity in the wake of a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire. Trump, who was grazed by a bullet, escaped serious injury, while rally attendee Corey Comperatore, the fire chief for nearby Buffalo Township, tragically lost his life.
In his address, the 81-year-old president emphasized the need to lower the political temperature and reminded Americans that despite their disagreements, they are neighbors, friends, coworkers, and fellow citizens. Biden drew connections between this assassination attempt, the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and the foiled 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He expressed concern over the escalating passions surrounding the upcoming election and stressed the importance of preventing political differences from descending into violence.
Biden urged Americans to resolve their differences through the ballot box rather than resorting to bullets. He called for a departure from echo chambers and the rampant spread of misinformation, highlighting the role of foreign actors in fueling division within the country.
Prior to the assassination attempt, Biden faced calls to step aside following a lackluster debate performance against Trump on June 27. Despite concerns about his cognitive fitness and trailing in national and swing-state polls, the president affirmed his commitment to continue his campaign for a second term.
