Democratic House Rep. Ruben Gallego sends letter to Secret Service director
WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 14: Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., walks down the House steps after the final votes of the week in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Rep. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat and candidate for the Senate, sent a letter to U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after last night’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“This was a security failure at the highest level, not seen since the attempted assassination of President Reagan,” wrote Gallego. “This cannot happen, and I demand accountability.”
Gallego detailed several questions that he wants answers to, including who approved the security plan and whether surrounding buildings were properly assessed for threats.
— Jake Piazza
White House: Biden and Trump phone call was ‘good, short and respectful’
Joe Biden and Donald Trump 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein | David Swanson | Reuters
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump briefly spoke on the phone Saturday evening in a rare one-on-one conversation.
A White House official described the phone call to NBC News as “good, short and respectful.”
It was the first time the candidates had spoken to each other since their presidential debate on June 27.
Earlier that evening, Biden delivered brief remarks on camera in Delaware and condemned the political violence, before heading back to Washington.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said Saturday. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”
— Rebecca Picciotto
Mike Pence says he is grateful for Trump’s safety, condemns political violence
Former US Vice President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Mike Pence speaks during his campaign launch event at the FFA Enrichment Center of the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, on June 7, 2023.
Stephen Maturen | Afp | Getty Images
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife “thank God” for Donald Trump’s safety and sent their condolences and support to the victims and their families.
He added a note of gratitude for the Secret Service’s “swift response,” which he added, “undoubtedly saved lives.”
“There is no place in America for political violence and it must be universally condemned,” he added.
Pence was one of several government officials targeted by armed rioters during the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol attack, which he partially blamed Trump for inciting.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Two victims remain hospitalized, authorities say
A person is removed by state police from the stands after guns were fired at Republican candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.
Rebecca Droke | Afp | Getty Images
More than 12 hours after the shooting, two victims remain in critical condition at a local hospital, authorities and a hospital spokesman said.
The victims’ names have not been released, and it was unclear Sunday morning when officials would deliver another update.
One attendee at the rally died on the scene, as did the gunman, who was killed by law enforcement.
— Jake Piazza
Speaker Johnson blames campaign rhetoric: ‘We can’t go on like this’
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center after a meeting of the House Republican Conference on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed incendiary political rhetoric for Saturday’s assassination attempt of Donald Trump and reiterated that Congress is launching a full investigation into the incident.
“We can’t go on like this as a society,” Johnson said in an interview with NBC’s “TODAY.” “Everyone needs to turn the rhetoric down.”
He pointed to President Joe Biden’s campaign rhetoric, including remarks on a private donor call in which Biden said, “It’s time to put Trump in the bullseye.”
“I know that [Biden] didn’t mean what is being implied there,” said Johnson, “but that kind of language on either side should be called out.”
Congress plans to do a full investigation of the shooting, he said, to answer questions about any potential security lapses and “anything else that the American people need to know.”
“Lots more questions than answers this morning,” he added.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Trump says he is prepared to speak at the Republican National Convention
A Truth Social post by the Republican former president of the United States Donald Trump, after a shooting attack during a campaign event in the city of Butler, Pennsylvania.
Jaque Silva | Lightrocket | Getty Images
Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was looking forward to addressing the country at this week’s Republican National Convention in Wisconsin.
The former president also thanked the public for its support and sent condolences to the shooting victims and their families.
“We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families,” Trump wrote. “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
The RNC is set to take place in Milwaukee from Monday to Thursday.
Saturday’s assassination attempt on Trump will not change the RNC’s structure, a senior Republican official involved in the planning told NBC News on Sunday.
The official added that the shooting and Trump’s survival could color the convention with more emotional overtones, but that the fundamental plan will not change.
— Rebecca Picciotto
Secret Service debunks claims that Trump was denied additional security
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents on stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.
Evan Vucci | AP
The Secret Service rejected rumors that it had denied Donald Trump’s requests for additional security resources.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that the notion that Trump’s team asked for more security and was rebuffed “is absolutely false.”
“In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” Guglielmi wrote in a social media post.
To prepare for more travel and events on the campaign trail, Trump’s team beefed up his Secret Service detail with more special agents and teams, an official told NBC News in May.
— Rebecca Picciotto
