Kremlin reacts to Trump assassination attempt

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says the Russian leader does not plan to call the Republican presidential hopeful in the wake of the shooting

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russian President Vladimir Putin does not intend to call Donald Trump after Saturday’s attempt on the US Republican presidential frontrunner’s life. He added that Moscow “strongly condemns any forms of political violence,” and extends its condolences to the family of the spectator who was killed in the shooting.

Several shots were fired at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in an apparent assassination attempt. A bullet grazed the politician’s right ear, a person in the crowd was fatally shot, and two more were seriously injured. The GOP hopeful was whisked off stage by Secret Service agents within seconds, and moved to a “safe” place. Authorities later reported that the 20-year-old suspected shooter, who had presumably taken up position on a nearby rooftop, was shot and killed.

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Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Peskov stressed that the Kremlin does not believe that the Biden administration was behind Saturday’s assassination attempt on Trump. He noted, however, that the “atmosphere that was created by this administration during the political struggle… around Trump has led to what America has faced today.” 

The Kremlin spokesman also expressed hope that the people injured in the incident would fully recover.

According to Peskov, “the incumbent administration’s style is such that it prefers to resolve all issues from a position of power, including first and foremost in international affairs. No one is ever seeking compromises.”

“Now, this has basically spilled over into the country itself,” the Russian official claimed.

“After numerous attempts to remove Trump from the political arena with the help of legal tools, courts, the prosecution, attempts to politically discredit and compromise the candidate, it was clear to all outside observers that his life was in danger,” the presidential spokesperson stated.

Peskov suggested that the nature of the US political system has encouraged violence, as evidenced by numerous similar cases in the country’s history.

In the wake of the assassination attempt, Trump’s supporters in the US have argued that the mainstream media’s demonization of the Republican presidential hopeful may have played a role in radicalizing the suspected shooter.

In the hours that followed the incident, President Joe Biden, Trump’s rival in the race for the White House, denounced the attack, stressing that “there’s no place for this kind of violence in America.”

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have issued statements in a similar vein, also thanking the Secret Service for their swift intervention. A number of other prominent American politicians, including Democratic Party stalwart Nancy Pelosi, have also spoken out against political violence, as have several foreign leaders.