Albanese calls for ‘respectful’ political debate after ‘inexcusable attack’ on Trump

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Key Points

Australian leaders have condemned the shooting at a Donald Trump rally.
Anthony Albanese says he is relieved to hear Trump is safe.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has described it as “attempted assassination”.

Anthony Albanese has condemned an “inexcusable attack” on Donald Trump during a campaign rally in the United States, with the prime minister saying the incident also underscored the need for respectful political discourse in Australia.

Albanese joined Australia’s ambassador to the United States and members of the opposition to condemn .

Trump survived what is being described as an attempted assassination after shots were fired during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania where he was speaking. He has since been released from hospital after issuing a statement saying he was doing “fine”.

One audience member was killed and the alleged shooter is also dead, the Washington Post reported, citing county officials.

Albanese described the incident as “concerning and confronting”, adding there was no place for violence in the democratic process.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (local time), 13 July, 2024. Source: AP / Gene J Puskar/AP

“This was an inexcusable attack on the democratic values that Australians and Americans share and the freedom that we treasure,” he told reporters in Canberra.

He said the incident underscored the importance of “lowering the temperature of debate” at home.

“There is nothing to be served by some of the escalation of rhetoric that we see in some of our political debate, political discourse, in the democratic world,” he said, adding it was a phenomenon not unique to the United States.

“I’ve been talking for a long period of time about people having conflict fatigue in this country, about being able to have a political discourse which is respectful. I think that that’s the

essence of democracy. There’s a lot of shouting going on.”

Albanese pointed to recent attacks on MP’s electorate offices, amid concerns around the war in Gaza.

He said such “inappropriate” incidents must be called out unequivocally, having “crossed the line”.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said violence had “no place in society” and wished Trump a speedy recovery.

Australia’s envoy to the US Kevin Rudd, who is due to attend the Republican national convention, also said violence had no place in democracies.

“It is a relief to see President Trump is safe,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers branded the vision “extraordinary scenes” as he saw the live images aired during a TV interview on Sunday.

“It’s heartening to see his arm was up and he was mobile.”

Former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said he was “saddened, shocked and appalled at the attempted assassination of President Trump”.

“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.

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

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