Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned what he described as the “shocking” apparent assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump last night.
Speaking in Cork, Mr Martin said “it was very serious and very shocking to watch the scenes, reports RTE.
“There can be absolutely no place for violence in politics and our thoughts are with the police officer, the agent who was injured, and indeed with all those impacted by such an event,” reports RTE.
Mr Martin said there was increasing evidence of a rise in political violence globally and said “we have to be very clear in our condemnation of that, reports RTE.
He said thankfully the President and those attending the event were not harmed on this occasion.
Mr Martin said “we’ve all been warned about the lone wolf attack … I do think we always need to be conscious of our language in public life and demonising others, reports RTE.
He said there was no justification for political violence – “there’s no excuse for the use of the gun in politics and we have seen far too great a frequency and occurrences of political violence across the world and in the United States as well,
“We have to be extremely conscious and vigilant about the proliferation of gun culture as well but it’s quite shocking to see events of this kind unfold,” reports RTE.
Mr Martin said President Trump had faced several attempted assassinations and described this as “reprehensible and outrageous and shocking that this should be occurring, reports RTE.
Earlier Tánaiste Simon Harris said that political violence has no place in a democracy following a shooting at an event in Washington DC that President Trump was attending.
In a post on X, Mr Harris said his thoughts are with President Trump, the First Lady Melania Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and all those affected by last night’s events, reports RTE.
“I am relieved that no one was hurt”, he said.
Meanwhile, France’s President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as “unacceptable”.
“The armed attack targeting the president of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy,” he said on X, reports RTE.
“I extend my full support to Donald Trump,” reports RTE.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” by the shooting, adding it was “a huge relief” that President Trump and others were unharmed.
“Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Mr Starmer said on X, reports RTE.
Mr Starmer sent a message to Mr Trump “in solidarity for the events that took place”, senior minister Darren Jones told UK broadcasters during a series of interviews.
The shooting at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association occurred less than 48 hours before King Charles is due to arrive in the US for a state visit, reports RTE.
Mr Jones said security teams in Britain and the US were “working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place”.
Britain’s King Charles was “greatly relieved” that President Trump, his wife and other guests were “unharmed”, Buckingham Palace said today, reports RTE.
The incident came less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla begin a four-day state visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner on Tuesday, reports RTE.
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