By Rania Abu Shamala
ISTANBUL (AA) – Arab countries on Sunday condemned the attempt to assassinate former US President Donald Trump while speaking at a campaign rally in the state of Pennsylvania.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “expresses its condemnation and denunciation of the attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump and its complete solidarity with the US, the former President, and his family, and affirms its rejection of all forms of violence.”
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI expressed his solidarity with Trump on Sunday, according to the official Moroccan news agency.
Mohammed said he was “deeply moved and saddened by the horrific assassination attempt that took place at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
He strongly condemned political violence and wished Trump “a speedy recovery so that he can continue to serve his nation.”
King Abdullah II of Jordan said of the assassination attempt on X: “Deeply shocked and outraged by the heinous attempt on former US President Donald Trump’s life during a political rally. Jordan condemns this vicious attack and all kinds of political violence.”
Trump was shot in the right ear but is fine, with the FBI issuing a statement identifying Thomas Matthew Crooks as the suspected shooter.
The Secret Service, which handles security for past and current presidents, said the shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position from outside the venue. In addition to the shooter, one spectator is dead and two others were critically injured.
The incident occurred just days before Trump is to be nominated as the Republican Party candidate for the 2024 presidential election.