Pennsylvania Democratic Party Silent amid Bipartisan Condemnation of Trump Assassination Attempt

Tom Pappert

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party did not respond to The Pennsylvania Daily Star when asked about a statement after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in the commonwealth on Saturday.

Despite every member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation issuing statements expressing solidarity with Trump or condemning political violence, the Pennsylvania Democrats had yet to release a statement on their website, or social media accounts including X, Facebook or Instagram, by press time.

The Pennsylvania Democrats did not tell The Star whether they intend to release a statement regarding the attempted assassination, nor whether its chairman, State Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) (pictured above) planned to issue a statement.

Trump confirmed one of the bullets fired by 20-year-old Thomas Crooks pierced his ear, and revealed on Monday he narrowly survived the shooting by turning toward a sign which contained immigration statistics he planned to cite in the speech. Crooks was killed by United States Secret Service during the shooting.

Corey Comperatore, a Butler County fire chief, was fatally shot by Crooks’ gunfire as he shielded his family with his body. A fundraiser for Comperatore and the other victims has raised more than $4 million.

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick, who was present at the rally and in the line of fire when the would-be assassin began shooting on Saturday, condemned the “assassination attempt” on Trump and proposed he and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) suspend negative advertising in the aftermath of the attack.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) wrote that “[p]olitical violence has no justification or any place in America.”

He declared the “heinous and reprehensible act” was “an attack on our democracy, our freedom” and the “principles that define our great nation” in addition to an attempted assassination.

In addition to condemning the violence, Representative Scott Perry (R-PA-10) acknowledged, “America wants answers – without delay, drama, or games,” and vowed the House Oversight Committee would find them.

“Now, though, please remember the innocent life taken and those who were critically injured.” Perry added, “Please pray for them, their loved ones as they travel this difficult road, for President Trump and his family who continue to be relentlessly under siege, and for America.”

Representative Dan Meuser (R-PA-09), who was at the rally, appeared on Newsmax on the night of the assassination attempt, and later described the attack as “horrific” when sharing the Trump-endorsed fundraiser to benefit the families of the killer’s other victims.

Also at the rally was Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), who thanked law enforcement after confirming his safety and his prayers for Trump and the other casualties. He later expressed his condolences to Comperatore’s family, describing him as “a proud husband [and] father.”

Representatives Susan Wild (R-PA-07), Matt Cartwright (R-PA-08), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), John Joyce (R-PA-13), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), also condemned the political violence or issued statements in support of Trump after the attempted assassination.

Republican Party of Pennsylvania chairman Lawrence Tabas condemned the shooting in a statement, declaring “[d]emocracy is diminished by political violence,” and offering prayers for the victims and “for unity, which is the only thing that makes America strong and exceptional.”

The party also posted the iconic photo of Trump raising his fist after the shooting to its account on the social media platform X, where it called for prayer for Trump and those at the Butler rally.

Both U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) condemned the violence, with Fetterman immediately “a speedy and full recovery” to Trump and Casey declaring, “[p]olitical violence is never acceptable,” in a statement.

All Democrats who represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. House also issued statements, with most declaring their opposition to political violence.

Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02) additionally wrote of his gladness in a statement to learn “former President Trump is okay,” not long after the attempted assassination was confirmed.

Others were more pithy, including Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), who wrote, “Political violence is wrong – period.”

Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05) described the shooting as “heinous” and wrote, “[p]olitical violence has no place in a civil society and must be universally condemned.”

Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Summer Lee (D-PA-12) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) also issued statements condemning the shooting.

Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, confirmed he spoke with Comperatore in an emotional statement on Sunday.

Many have called for resignations at the Secret Service in the wake of the attempted assassination, with Tesla Motors and Space X CEO Elon Musk both endorsing Trump and calling for resignations on the night Trump was shot.

The Secret Service on Monday stated it will “participate fully” in an independent review of the circumstances which led to the Trump shooting.

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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Sharif Street” by State Senator Sharif Street. 

 

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