After an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Wisconsin political leaders condemned the violence and shared prayers for the presumptive Republican nominee.
After shots rang out, Secret Service agents covered Trump and then rushed the former president from the stage at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump, who had a blood-covered ear, said on the Truth Social media site that a bullet “pierced the upper part of my right ear” after the shooting on Saturday.
The suspected gunman, who the FBI identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, is dead and another spectator at the rally was killed. The Secret Service said two more rally-goers were critically injured.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, party leaders and members of the state’s Congressional delegation weighed in Saturday on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. Evers thanked first responders and said his staff are in contact with those coordinating security at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.
“We cannot be a country that accepts political violence of any kind—that is not who we are as Americans,” Evers said.
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Saturday on X that he’s glad former President Trump is safe and called on the country to unite.
“The assassination attempt on President Trump earlier today is a dark moment for our country,” Vos said. “I’m praying for President Trump and call on our nation to come together and denounce this cowardly attack on democracy.”
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Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler also condemned the act of violence.
“Political violence against anyone is an attack not just to those in public life, but to the essence of our democracy,” Wikler said.
Republican members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation weighed in with prayers for the party’s presumptive nominee and urged the country to come together.
On CNN Sunday, Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said the shooting was shocking and sad. He urged people to turn this into a moment of healing and unity.
“President Lincoln said a house divided against itself cannot stand. As much as we’re not addressing our debt and deficit issue, I think the greatest threat to America right now is that we’re horribly divided…. There’s no reason for us to be divided,” Johnson said.
In a video Saturday on X, House Rep. Derrick Van Orden said, “We are not afraid of you.”
“It’s time for us to stand together as Americans united and stop this madness,” Van Orden. “We want freedom. We want prosperity, and we want security for our children.”
House Rep. Tom Tiffany echoed prayers for Trump and spectators at the rally on Saturday, saying “violence has no place in our society.”
“President Trump has always stood with the American people, and I have no doubt he will continue to FIGHT for America,” Tiffany said.
Reps. Glenn Grothman, Scott Fitzgerald and Bryan Steil also shared prayers for Trump, the nation and his supporters on X. Former Rep. Mike Gallagher, who resigned from his seat April 25, called it a “sad and troubling day for our Republic.”
Members of Wisconsin’s Democratic Congressional delegation also condemned the violence, saying it’s never acceptable.
On Sunday, a defiant Trump thanked supporters for their prayers and prayed for those wounded on Truth Social, saying it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump wrote. “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
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