'Not In Hands Of Would-be Assassin': Biden Says Power To Elect President Should Always Be With People

US President Joe Biden on Monday said that the power to change America should reside with its people, not with a “would-be assassin.”

“The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people – not in the hands of a would-be assassin. The path forward through competing visions and campaigns should always be resolved peacefully – not through acts of violence,” Biden said.

Biden made these remarks on social media platform ‘X’ following an assassination attempt against former US President Donald Trump during an election rally in Pennsylvania.

During Saturday’s campaign event, the 78-year-old former president was speaking when a bullet pierced his ear. The FBI identified the suspect as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was later killed by law enforcement agents. The incident also resulted in the death of one spectator and the injury of another.

‘Time to cool it down’

Following the incident, Biden on Sunday addressed the nation from the Oval Office, seeking to calm a divided nation after the assassination attempt on his rival Trump.

“It’s time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that,” Biden said during a prime-time national address.

“I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies we are neighbours, friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans.” Calling for national unity, he said, “We must stand together”.

Biden further added: “Yesterday’s shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are and how we go forward from here.”

(With inputs from agencies)