Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was ‘deeply concerned by the attack on my friend’
World leaders reacted with shock to the wounding of Donald Trump in an apparent assassination attempt against the former U.S. president at an election rally.
Presidents and prime ministers globally spoke out against political violence and expressed their support for those affected by the shooting on Saturday, which killed one bystander and left two other spectators critically wounded.
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “sickened” by the news in a post on X. “It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable. My thoughts are with former President Trump, those at the event, and all Americans,” he wrote on Saturday night.
United States
U.S. President Joe Biden said he was relieved that Trump is reportedly “doing well.” He said that “everybody must condemn” the suspected assassination attempt. “We cannot allow this to be happening,” Biden said. “The idea that there’s violence in America like this is just unheard of.”
Europe
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.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies,” he said.
Referring to “these dark hours,” Hungary’s nationalist leader Victor Orban offered his “thoughts and prayers” to Trump.
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.”
Americas
Argentina’s President Javier Milei 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.”
Asia Pacific
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned by the attack on my friend.” “Violence has no place in politics and democracies,” said Modi.
Japanese Prime Minister 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.”
Middle East
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,” Netanyahu said.
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