Biden condemns Trump attack as ‘contrary to everything we stand for’

President Joe Biden on Sunday condemned the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump as “contrary to everything we stand for as a nation” and pledged a review of security measures for this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter. An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation,” Biden said in the Roosevelt Room, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“We’ll debate, and we’ll disagree. That’s not going to change. But we’re going to not lose sight of the fact of who we are as Americans,” he said.

Biden said he ordered an independent review of what occurred at the Trump rally and that the FBI investigation will be “thorough and swift.” The president also said he would address the country at greater length at 8 p.m. ET from the Oval Office.

Trump was on stage for a rally in Burke, Pennsylvania, Saturday evening when a shooter opened fire, killing one attendee and injuring others, including the former president. Trump said he is safe, but that a bullet struck his ear.

Hours later, the president returned to the White House from his home in Rehoboth, Delaware. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris received an updated briefing Sunday morning from top homeland security and law enforcement officials in the White House Situation Room.

Biden said he spoke to Trump Saturday evening after the attack and was “sincerely grateful” that he was doing well. He also offered his condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, the man who was killed at the rally, while urging the country to not jump to conclusions about the suspected shooter’s motives while the FBI conducts its investigation.

The president said Trump, as a former president and the Republican nominee, already receives a “heightened level of security,” and that he has consistently directed the Secret Service to provide Trump and his team with the necessary resources to ensure his continued safety.

“I’ve directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to start tomorrow,” Biden said.

The shooting has temporarily frozen an intensifying reelection campaign for the president. Biden, who has been battling concerns about his age and viability, was expected to use next week on the campaign trail to counter Trump’s message at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

But now those plans are on hold. The White House said Biden’s planned trip to Austin, Texas, on Monday to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act had been canceled. Harris’ team also announced it would postpone a Tuesday campaign event on abortion rights in Palm Beach County, Florida — Trump’s home base.

Biden is now forced to return to a role he’s had to play many times before — a unifier in chief.

“This is time to be president, not candidate. The campaign will resume at the right moment,” said a senior Biden campaign official, granted anonymity to discuss the delicate situation. “But he has to speak to all Americans now, especially those who won’t vote for him.”

In the hours after the attack, the Biden campaign said it was working to pull down its television ads as quickly as possible. The president was also scheduled to travel early next week to Nevada and was expected to participate in media interviews, including a sit-down with NBC’s Lester Holt on Monday. Holt’s interview with Biden will go on as scheduled, but it will be conducted at the White House, NBC News announced.

Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.