Biden: No 'Information' Yet On Motive Of Trump Shooter

In brief televised remarks on Sunday, President Joe Biden said there was no additional information to share on the motives of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday.

We dont yet have any information about the motive of the shooter. We know who he is, Biden said. I urge everyone, everyone, please dont make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations.

Biden also said he ordered a review of security measures for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week and an independent review of the national security at Saturdays Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the shooting occurred.

Biden is slated to deliver a longer address about Saturdays events from the Oval Office on Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. 

Biden spoke to Trump on Saturday night. In his remarks Sunday, the president did not share any details about their conversation, but emphasized his gratitude that Trump was safe.

Im sincerely grateful that hes doing well and recovering, Biden said.

Biden also lamented the death of Corey Comperatore, a former firefighter and rally attendee, who was killed while trying to shield his family members.

He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets who were being fired, Biden said. He lost his life, God love him.

Biden concluded with a call for Americans to unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are. 

Crooks attempted assassination of Trump, which failed but saw a bullet pierce the candidates ear, adds new tension to the national mood at a time of historic volatility.

The previous two weeks have been dominated by discussions of Bidens electability and his fitness to serve a second term, following a disastrous debate performance on June 27 that many interpreted as a possible sign of the presidents cognitive decline.

Now Biden and other Democrats must contend with Republicans charge that rhetoric portraying Trump as a threat to democracy played some role in inspiring the assassination attempt.

But there is no evidence yet of what motivated Crooks, a registered Republican who onced donated to a liberal group.

Many elected Democrats issued strong condemnations of Saturdays violence.

Violence is cowardice not strength. It is fiercely undemocratic. As we process this shock, we can choose to realize that weve gone too far as a society down the path of contempt, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), the Democratic nominee for Senate in New Jersey, wrote in a thread on X . We are not each others enemy. We are not at war with each other.