Canada’s leaders are condemning political violence after shots were fired at a rally for U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump.
American officials said the former president and current presumptive Republican nominee is “fine” following the shooting, after images captured at the rally in Butler, Penn., Saturday showed Trump with what appeared to be blood trickling from one of his ears.
A local prosecutor said the suspected shooter is dead, as is at least one person who’d been attending the rally.
‘Condemn in the strongest terms’
Canadian politicians posted statements on social media in the hours following the incident, with Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre writing, in part, “I condemn in the strongest of terms the attempted murder of former president Trump today.”
Law enforcement officials had not labelled the actions as such, as of 8 p.m. ET, but two officials speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press the incident is being investigated as an attempted assassination.
Poilievre went on to say, “I am relieved he is safe. My prayers are with other innocent people harmed or killed by this heinous act … Democracy must prevail.”
‘Never an excuse’
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to comment publicly, but other Canadian leaders posted similar own sentiments, including Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae.
“Terrible events in Butler County, PA today – there is never an excuse for violence of this kind. So sad to hear of someone in the crowd being shot,” Rae wrote in a post on X.
‘Horrific act’
Tom Clark, consul general of Canada in New York, called the incident “horrific,” adding his well-wishes to Trump and that the shooting “must be condemned in the strongest way by everyone.”
Mark Carney, economist and former governor of the Bank of Canada, wrote, “There is never any justification for political violence of any sort, and we must fully and unequivocally condemn this horrific act.”
This is a developing news story. Check back for more information.