The attempted assassination of former President and Republican Donald Trump prompted US President Joe Biden to give a rare Oval Office address on Sunday, wherein he urged Americans to 'cool down the political rhetoric' in the country.
As Biden and the Democrats struggled to navigate the delicate situation in the wake of the shooting, the President decided to use the gravitas of the Oval Office to convey the message, hinting at the significance of the event. This was the third time Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office, the two other times being last year- to call for aiding both Israel and Ukraine and last year for a bipartisan agreement to avoid defaulting on the nation’s debt.
"I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies we are neighbours, friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans."
"A former president was shot. An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing," Biden said. "We cannot, we must not go down this road in America. We’ve travelled it before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer", he added.
The President also spoke about the investigation into the shooting, stating the motive of the shooter was not known. "We don't know his opinions or affiliations. We don't know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else. Law enforcement professionals, as I speak, are investigating those questions," he said.
Biden stressed the political significance of the election, stating that it was "going to shape the future of America and the world for decades".
"Yes, we have deeply felt, strong disagreements. The stakes in this election are enormously high," Biden said, adding that disagreements in a democratic system were inevitable, but politics should be an "arena for peaceful debate," and not a "killing field."
"In America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box," he continued. "Not with bullets. The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people — not in the hands of a would-be assassin."
He also called for unity. "Let's remember here in America, all unity is the most elusive of gold goals right now. Nothing is more important for us now. And standing together. We can do this."
"We must be an American democracy. where arguments are made in good faith.... where the rule of law is respected and where decency, dignity and fair play aren't just quaint notions but living breathing realities. We owe that to those who come before us, those who gave their life in this country and we owe that to ourselves Let's remember we are the United States of America. There is nothing beyond our capacity. When we do it. Together," Biden said.
