Trump assassination attempt is ‘an attack on all Americans’ warns ex White House official as he slams ‘heinous’ shooting

THE ATTEMPTED assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday was “an attack on all Americans”, a former White House official told The Sun.

Dr Jamie Metzl, who worked in the White House during the Clinton administration, condemned the shooting as a “heinous” act of political violence .

Dr Metzl, who worked in both the US State Department and on the US National Security Council, told The Sun the use of violence to achieve political goals is “unacceptable for our democracy”.

He said: “The attack on President Trump is an attack on all Americans.

“Political violence should have no place here or anywhere. We must all absolutely and unequivocally condemn this heinous assassination attempt and all political violence.”

Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday when a gunman opened fire with an automatic rifle from a rooftop nearby.

He fired around five gunshots towards the Republican candidate, wounding him and killing someone in the crowd.

Chaos erupted with dramatic footage from the scene capturing Secret Service agents closing in.

They swarmed the former White House chief and dragged him to safety.

Meanwhile Trump punched his fist in the air and mouthed “Fight, Fight, Fight!” to deafening cheers from the crowd.

Dr Metzl said: “Political differences are healthy and inevitable, but the application of violence to achieve political ends must be considered entirely unacceptable for our democracy.”

What we know so far…

• A shooter opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, killing one, critically injuring two others, and wounding the former President
• Dramatic footage showed the moment Trump dived behind his podium as Secret Service agents closed in
• The FBI confirmed it was an assassination attempt after snipers shot the gunman dead on site
• Trump broke his silence with a statement describing the shooting – after a bullet struck his ear and left blood pouring down the side of his face
• A hot microphone captured the moment Secret Service agents screamed “Get down!”
• The shooter was later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks and pictured
• A witness claims he warned police about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before the attack
• President Joe Biden dubbed the shooting “sick,” and suspended campaigning for the next two days
• Melania Trump broke her silence on the shooting and branded the gunman a “monster”

He added: “All Americans should unite in wishing former president Trump and the other victim a speedy recovery and mourning the tragic death of the innocent bystander.”

The 2024 bid for the White House has already become a particularly tumultuous race as Democrats doubt President Joe Biden’s ability to beat Trump.

Around 20 of his senior colleagues have already asked him to pull out of the race.

Meanwhile Trump has waited four years to try and win back his seat in the Oval Office after losing out to Biden in 2020.

Alan Mendoza, director of trans-Atlantic foreign policy think tank Henry Jackson Society, told The Sun that the failed attempt on Trump’s life may just push him towards a winning campaign .

He said: “He [Trump] had incredible presence of mind, having been shot, to show defiance and to wave his fist in the air.

“His first reaction is not to cower and to run off the stage, but… to remind everyone watching that he is the man… that will play well.”

And explained that: “Americans like strong, strong figures as presidents who are not frightened of threats.”

President Biden held a brief press conference just after 8 pm on Saturday following the shooting.

He later confirmed he had spoken to Trump and dubbed the shooting “sick”.

The President said: “Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick.

“We cannot condone this.”

Vice President Harris said she was “relieved” Trump was not seriously injured.

“Violence such as this has no place in our nation,” she added.

Meanwhile former President Obama said on X: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.

“Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”

Leaders from around the globe echoed their sentiments and wished Trump well.

Britain’s new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took to X to say: “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and we send him and his family our best wishes.

“Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”

Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been a target for assassins in the past, also said he was “appalled” by the events in the US.

“Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail,” he said on X.

“I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this.

Former PM Boris Johnson also passed his condolences to Trump and his family as he said it shows “the tragic fragility of democracy in the face of violence and unreason”.