The calls to replace President Joe Biden have come to a halt following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The incident has taken center stage, with Democrats shifting their focus to expressing condolences and ensuring the safety of their teams.
Several House Democrats told Axios that they are prioritizing showing empathy and keeping their teams safe, rather than questioning Biden’s continued presidential candidacy. Another Democrat stated that the focus is not on Biden’s candidacy at this time.
In the aftermath of the shooting, which left Corey Comperatore, a former Pennsylvania fire chief, dead and two others critically injured, several Democrats issued statements condemning “political violence.” Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and Gov. Gavin Newsom, were among those who spoke out against the violence.
Biden himself issued a statement, expressing gratitude that Trump is “safe and doing well.” The president emphasized that there is “no place for this kind of violence in America.”
Former 2024 Democrat presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips echoed the sentiment, stating that it would be “unpatriotic and unprincipled” to focus on anything other than the national tragedy. Phillips added that the only conversation about Biden should be about how he can console the country, address anger, and meet the moment.
In response to the shooting, the Biden campaign announced that they would be “pausing all outbound communications” and removing their television advertisements.
