Condemnation of Trump shooting incident crosses party lines as local officials weigh-in

Condemnation and concern were the emotions being conveyed by political leaders from Buffalo, Western New York and New York State late Saturday as word of the shooting incident at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania spread.

Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time.

A barrage of gunfire set off panic Saturday, and a bloodied Trump was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried to his SUV as he pumped his fist in a show of defiance.

Trump’s campaign said the presumptive GOP nominee was doing “fine” after the shooting, which he said pierced the upper part of his right ear.

"Tonight we saw a very disgusting and senseless act of political violence in this country, one I thought I would never see in my lifetime," Rep. Nick Langworthy said during a press briefing. "It is an assassination attempt on President Trump."

Rep. Tim Kennedy reflected concern as well following the incident, saying, "There is absolutely no place for violence in our democracy and society."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined the chorus of political leaders condemning the shooting incident. "Any violence against a fellow American is disgusting and unacceptable," she stated. "We must express political disagreements peacefully, civilly and respectfully."

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said, "I am horrified," in response to the shooting, adding to the wave of condemnation of any political violence.

At the local level, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, a consistent critic of Trump, said, "At no time in our society is violence of any nature acceptable. In our nation we resolve our differences at the ballot box, not with violence."