In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, President Joe Biden delivered remarks from the Oval Office addressing the incident. During his comments, it appears Biden almost called on citizens to join together and “make America great again” but caught himself realizing he would have outright used his opponent’s campaign slogan.
A clip of the press conference shows Biden stating, “Tonight I’m asking every American to recommit, to make America so … make America,” before he began stumbling as if to prevent himself from completing the MAGA catchphrase. He finished his sentence, stammering, “Think about it.” Had Biden stated verbatim, “Make America Great Again,” it would have undeniably been a major talking point for former President Trump.
Ultimately, Biden used the White House press conference to urge the American public to refrain from political violence as the cultural landscape becomes increasingly contentious ahead of the election. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the attempted assassination against Trump was carried out by a 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
During the highly anticipated rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening, shots rang out, interrupting Trump’s speech. Trump could be seen grabbing the back of his head and looking at his hand to discover blood before his Secret Service detail tackled him to the ground to shield his body. Trump walked away unharmed, only having a bullet graze his ear. As he was escorted off the premises, the former president defiantly made a powerful fist gesture as the crowd roared.
However, Biden denounced such political violence. Biden emphasized that there is a need to “lower the political temperature” in American politics. “Neighbors, we want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember we may disagree. We are not enemies, we’re neighbors, we’re friends, co workers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together. Yesterday’s shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are, how we go forward from here,” Biden said.
The president noted that he spoke with Trump after the shocking incident and extended his thoughts and prayers to the Trump supporter, Corey Comperatore. “Thankfully, former Trump is not seriously injured. I spoke with him last night. I’m grateful he’s doing well, and Jill and I keep him and his family in our prayers. We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Who was killed. Corey was a husband, a father, a volunteer firefighter, a hero sheltering his family from those bullets. We should all hold his family and all those injured in our prayers,” he continued.
Biden further emphasized that political disagreement is dealt with at the “battle box,” likely intending to say “ballot box.” He continued, “That’s how democracy should work. We debate and disagree, we compare and contrast the character to candidates. The records, the issues, the agenda, the vision for America. But in America, we resolve our difference at the battle box. You know, that’s how we do it at the battle blocks, not with bullets, the power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people.”
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Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.