Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT) strongly condemned the recent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, emphasizing that political violence has no place in society. In a statement released on social media, Sanders expressed his relief that Trump was unharmed during the incident in West Palm Beach. This is not the first time that the Vermont senator has voiced his disapproval of political violence; he similarly denounced it when Trump survived an assassination attempt by Thomas Matthew Crooks in July.
Sanders also referred to the former president as “dangerous” in August, stating that Trump undermines democracy and destroys faith in institutions. However, despite his criticisms, Sanders has consistently spoken out against violence directed at political figures.
The alleged would-be assassin managed to get close enough to Trump to fire several shots with a scoped rifle, despite being 300-500 yards away from him. Authorities acknowledged that the security perimeter for Trump could not be as extensive as it would have been if he were still in office due to his status as a presidential candidate.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been informed about the incident at the Trump International Golf Course, expressing relief upon learning of Trump’s safety. In separate statements, both VP Kamala Harris and Trump running-mate JD Vance expressed their gladness that the former president was unharmed in the attack.
Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s running mate, also shared his relief, stating, “Gwen and I are glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe. Violence has no place in our country.” As authorities continue to investigate this shocking act of aggression, it remains crucial for political leaders across the spectrum to denounce violence and uphold democratic principles.