Australia stands with its ‘friends in the United States’: Albanese

The Prime Minister has described the incident at Donald Trump’s campaign event an ‘inexcusable attack’ of the democratic values that both Australia and the US shared.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Liam Kidston

Anthony Albanese has said Australia stands with its “friends in the United States” following the apparent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, who is widely anticipated to win the US election in November.

Speaking from Parliament House in Canberra, the Prime Minister labelled the event as an “inexcusable attack” of the democratic values that both Australia and the US shared.

“In Australia, as in the United States, the essence and the purpose of our democracies is that we can express our views, debate our disagreements and resolve our differences peacefully,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“We do so with respect for each other and in the spirit of a shared love of our country.

“Any act of violence is an affront to that and must be condemned unequivocally. This was an inexcusable attack on the democratic values that Australians and Americans share and the freedom that we treasure.”

Mr Albanese added that he was “shocked” by the scenes at the former president’s rally.

“I am relieved by the news that the former president is safe and doing fine and I wish him and his family well.

“I am also saddened by reports that a member of the audience has lost their life, and other attendees have been injured and I send my condolences on behalf of Australia to their loved ones at this time of grief.”

Amid heightened political polarisation both in Australia and the United States, Mr Albanese also called for “the temperature of debate” to be lowered.

“There is nothing to be served by some of the escalation of rhetoric that we see in some of our political debates, political discourse, around the democratic world,” he said.

“It is a phenomenon not unique to the United States and I just say, we should be able to have political discussion and do it respectfully, and that is really important.”

Minutes in to a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Sunday (Saturday local time), Mr Trump was rushed off a stage by Secret Service agents after his right ear was struck by a bullet, according to a post made by the former president and current Republican frontrunner on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The incident left one rally attendee and the suspected gunman dead, with two other attendees critically injured.

In a statement released following the attack, the Prime Minister denounced the attack on Mr Trump.

“The incident at former President Trump’s campaign event in Pennsylvania today is concerning and confronting,” Mr Albanese said.

“There is no place for violence in the democratic process.

“I am relieved to hear reports that former President Trump is now safe.”

The Opposition Leader also denounced the stating that “violence has no place in society.”

Posting to Twitter after the former president had confirmed he had been injured in the shooting, the Opposition Leader wished Mr Trump “a speedy recovery”.

“I send my best wishes to former President Trump after this shocking attempt on his life,“ Mr Dutton said.

“It is a relief to see his statement, and I wish him a speedy recovery.“

Mr Dutton said “thoughts and prayers” were with the rally attendee who had been killed in the incident and two other Trump supporters who remain critically injured.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has expressed “saddened, shocked and appalled” at what he described as an “attempted assassination” of former president Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“Prayers for him and his family today, as well as all those who put their own lives at risk to protect those in public life,” Mr Morrison wrote in a post to X.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with former President Donald Trump. Picture: X

“Prayers also for America and its people, a great democracy and our great friend, at this difficult time.”

In May, Mr Morrison met with Mr Trump, where the pair reportedly discussed the AUKUS defence pact.

Sussan Ley, acting as Opposition Leader while Peter Dutton is on leave, described the incident as “not who we are”.

In a short statement, posted to X, Ms Ley condemned the attack and wished the former president well.

“Australians and Americans share a commitment to freedom and democracy,” Ms Ley said.

“The attempted assassination of former President Trump is a shocking breach of these values.

Ms Ley said her thoughts were with Mr Trump, his family and the American people during what she described as a “difficult time”.

Australians and Americans share a commitment to freedom and democracy.
The attempted assassination of former President Trump is a shocking breach of these values.
It is not who we are.
Our thoughts are with him, his family and the American people during this difficult time.

— Sussan Ley (@sussanley) July 14, 2024

Echoing her response was Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham who also denounced the attacks, while praising Australia’s gun control regime which poses far stricter regulations on firearm ownership than the United States.

“Politically motivated violence never has a place in free democracies,” Mr Birmingham said in a statement posted on X.

“Thoughts go to all victims of the appalling shooting in the US. Whatever your politics, candidates & supporters have a right to safe assembly.

“Once again, many Australians will be grateful for our gun laws.”

Politically motivated violence never has a place in free democracies.

Thoughts go to all victims of the appalling shooting in the US. Whatever your politics, candidates & supporters have a right to safe assembly.

Once again, many Australians will be grateful for our gun laws.

— Simon Birmingham (@Birmo) July 13, 2024