Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley on Sunday emphasized the need for unity and prayer following the assassination attempt on former President Trump, stating politics should be “secondary” as the nation reels from the incident.
“I think unity is obviously very important. I think strength is obviously very important, but right now, this morning, I think politics is secondary,” Whaltey said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I think right now we need to be praying for these families that have been affected, I think we need to be grateful that President Trump is alive and is actually going to be there,” in reference to this week’s Republican National Convention.
Shots were fired Saturday night at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa.; the former president said a bullet pierced his ear. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks by the FBI, and one spectator at the rally were killed. Two other attendees were critically injured, the U.S. Secret Service said.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Pittsburgh, said authorities have not yet identified a motive for the shooting.
The shooting occurred just days ahead of the Republican National Convention, slated to kick off Monday in Milwaukee, where delegates are expected to vote Trump as the party’s presidential nominee.
Whatley said the RNC is looking forward to Trump’s attendance in Milwaukee, telling “Fox News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream, “I think it’s going to be … tremendously important for him to be here and to deliver that message to America.”
Shortly after the shooting, top Trump aides confirmed the former president still plans to attend the Republican convention.
In a statement Sunday, Trump called on Americans to unite and said he is looking forward to “speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
Whatley echoed the sentiments of other national and world leaders who condemned the political violence.
“There is no place in politics in any way, shape or form for this kind of violence, for these types of actions. It’s a horrific act, and we’re gonna have time for investigations on it. But right now, I think everybody in America needs to stop. They need to pause; they need to reflect on what is actually important for us in this political process going forward.”
“You know, fortunately, we are here in Milwaukee and the show is going to take place. I think it’s tremendously important for us as a country that the Republican Party is going to move forward,” he added. “We are going to be strong. We are going to be resilient and certainly President Trump is going to be strong and resilient.”