'Violence has never been the answer': What Biden said about Trump, democracy in his address

President Joe Biden addressed the nation one day after a shooting at a Trump campaign rally that left one attendee and the gunman dead, and two others critically injured.

Here's what Biden said about the attack on his political rival, former President Donald Trump.

Live Updates: Biden says America 'must not go down this road' after Trump assassination attempt

What did Biden say about Trump?

During his address, Biden said he had checked in on the former president, and was praying for his wellbeing.

“Thankfully, former (President) Trump is not seriously injured,” Biden said. “I spoke to him last night. I’m grateful he’s doing well, and Jill and I keep him and his family in our prayers.”

The president also spoke more broadly about the outbreak of violence at the rally, condemning the actions of the gunman, who was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents moments after gunfire erupted at Trump’s campaign rally.

“A former president was shot,” Biden said. “An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot, we must not, go down this road in America. We’ve traveled it before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer.”

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Biden also drew comparisons to a wide number of politically motivated instances of violence over the last several years, including the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. capitol in 2021 and a kidnapping attempt on Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“Whether it’s with members of Congress in both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump, there is no place in America for this kind of violence” Biden said. “For any violence, ever. Period, no exceptions. We cannot allow for this kind of violence to be normalized.”

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He also emphasized the role that Americans play in preserving peace and democracy, urging voters to settle their disagreements at the ballot box in November.

“Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy,” Biden said. “It’s part of human nature, but politics must never be a literal battlefield, and God forbit, a killing field. I believe politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate, to pursue justice, to make decisions guided by the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We stand for an America not of extremism and fury, but of decency and grace.”

Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on Georgia politics. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @MayaHoman.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: What Biden said about Trump shooting at White House address