Published: Sept. 15, 2024 at 5:31 PM MST
As the FBI investigated what appeared to be an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Sunday, Arizona politicians from both sides of the aisle took to social media with messages of empathy and outrage.
Several praised the Secret Service, which reportedly fired at a suspect while Trump was on a Florida golf course.
Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who is running for a U.S. Senate seat in November, wrote just after 1 p.m. Arizona time that reports of an assassination attempt against Trump are "unacceptable and disturbing" and that violence has "no place" in a democracy. Gallego's message was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter,
Gallego's opponent Republican Kari Lake wrote on X at about 2 p.m. that she was praying for Trump and his family and also praying for "an end to the demonization of a good man and his movement."
Trump, who held his first post-debate campaign event in Tucson on Thursday, wrote in a campaign email that he was "safe and well" after an incident at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a Sunday afternoon press conference that the suspect was engaged by a Secret Service agent on the golf course, approximately 300-500 yards away from Trump, USA Today reported. Bradshaw said that the agent spotted a rifle barrel poking through a chain link fence at the edge of the property.
Bradshaw said that an AK-47 style rifle, two backpacks and a Go Pro camera were found in the area where the suspect was found and that an arrest had been made.
Other Arizona politicians with social media messages about the reported assassination attempt included Republican U.S. Reps. Eli Crane and Andy Biggs.
"May God continue protecting President Trump and his family," Biggs wrote on X at 1 p.m.
"Thankful @realDonaldTrump is safe once again," Crane wrote on X after 2 p.m.
Crane also reposted a message on X from U.S. Rep. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, who sought prayers for Trump and his family and wrote that "evil is after him (Trump)."
Many Democrats sent out similar messages praising the Secret Service and condemning political violence.
Democrat U.S. Rep. Rau´l Grijalva wrote on X at about 4 p.m. Sunday that he was glad that Trump is safe, and that he was also glad for the "quick response of the Secret Service. Violence, particularly political violence, has no place in our society," Grijalva wrote.
Similarly, U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton at 3:47 p.m. wrote on X that he was grateful for the former president's safety and for law enforcement's swift response, and wrote that there is "no place for political violence in America."
Arizona Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly wrote on X at 3:30 p.m. that he's thankful Trump was safe and praised the Secret Service and law enforcement.
Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X at about 1 p.m. Arizona time that she'd been briefed about the incident and that she was glad Trump was safe.