Biden makes statement after Trump rally shooting: “It’s sick”

President Biden delivered brief remarks after former President Donald Trump was seen with blood on his face and rushed off stage at a rally Saturday, referring to the former president by his first name, “Donald.” 

The White House confirmed late Saturday night that Mr. Biden and Trump spoke by phone, but did not detail what was said on the call. A Trump adviser also confirmed the two spoke. 

Mr. Biden traveled back to the White House late Saturday from Delaware, where he had been spending the weekend.   

In his public remarks, the president said he believes Trump is doing well. Mr. Biden has been updated by top Secret Service and Homeland Security officials, but details are still emerging. 

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” the president said. “It’s sick. It’s sick. That’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. You cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.” 

The president said Trump’s rally should have been able to take place peacefully, “without any problem.” 

“But the idea, the idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of,” he said. 

A reporter asked the president if he believes this was an assassination attempt.

“I don’t know enough to — I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts,” the president said. “So I want to make sure we have all the facts before I make any more comments.” 

The Secret Service stated that Trump is safe after shots were fired at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the campaign said the former president is “fine.” 

Trump said in a social media post that a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear. He was checked at a local hospital and released.

A rally attendee was killed, and two were critically wounded.

The shooter is dead, the Secret Service said. The FBI identified him as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. 

“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

A White House official said Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Liz Sherwood-Randall, assistant to the president and Homeland Security adviser, participated in the briefing. Also at the briefing were chief of staff Jeff Zients, White House counsel Steve Ricchetti and deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini. 

Vice President Kamala Harris’s office said she had been briefed as well.

Former presidents and their spouses have Secret Service protection for the rest of their lifetimes, according to the Secret Service. 

Mr. Biden will be pausing all political activity, including outbound communications, and will be pulling down television ads as quickly as possible, the campaign said.

Nicole Sganga, Jane Chick and Nidia Cavazos contributed reporting.