Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2024

July 13, 2024

The President. Thanks for coming, folks. I've been thoroughly briefed by all the agencies in the Federal Government as to the situation, based on what we know now.

I have tried to get a hold of Donald. He's with his doctors. Theyâapparently, he's doing well. I plan on talking to him shortly, I hope, when I get back to the telephone.

Look, there is no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.

And soâand I want to thank the Secret Service and all the agencies, including the State agencies, that have been engaged in making sure that the people whoâand we have more detail to come relative to the other injuredâother people who may be injured in the audience. I don't have all that detail; we'll make that available to you.

I may be able to come back a little later tonight. But we'll put out a statement if we don'tâif I am not able to giveâif weâif it's not convenient for you all.

But the bottom line is that the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been ableâcanâ be conducted peacefully without any problem. But the ideaâthe ideaâthat there's political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of. It was just not appropriate. And weâ everybodyâeverybody must condemn it. Everybody.

I'll keep you informed. And if I am able to speak to theâto Donald, I'll let you know that as well. But so far, it appears he's doing well. Number one.

Number two, that they're as thoroughly investigating what happened to anyone else in the audience. I have someâwe have some reports, but not final reports.

And every agency in the Federal Government, and I'll beâand I'm going back to my phone to speak with the Federal agencies that are being put together again to give me an updated briefingâhas anything happened, have they learned anymore in the last couple hours.

So thank you very much. And I hope I get to speak to him tonight. And I'll get toâback to you if I do. Okay?

Q. Mr. President, do you think this was an assassination attempt?

The President. I don't know enough toâI have aâI have an opinion, but I don't have any facts. So I want to make sure we have all the facts before I make some commentâany more comments.

Thank you.

Q. Are you worried about your own safety?

Q. Mr. Presidentââ

Q. Was this a security failing, Mr. President?

NOTE: The President spoke at 8:13 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Police Department.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Shooting at former President Donald J. Trump campaign rally in Butler, PA, remarks from Rehoboth Beach, DE; Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Locations: Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Names: Trump, Donald J.

Subjects: Delaware, President's visit; Pennsylvania, shooting at former President Donald J. Trump campaign rally in Butler; Secret Service, U.S.

DCPD Number: DCPD202400607.