President Joe Biden has called for an independent review of national security protocols following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally.
Independent Review
The decision came after a crucial meeting at the White House, where Biden addressed the nation's concerns over the incident.
During the meeting in the Situation Room at the White House, Biden emphasized the need to thoroughly evaluate the security measures implemented during Saturday's rally. "I have ordered an independent review of national security at yesterday's event to assess exactly what happened, and we will share the findings of this independent review with the American people," Biden stated.
The investigation into the assassination attempt is currently being led by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Ensure Continued Safety
Biden also instructed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures for the upcoming Republican National Convention, scheduled to begin on Monday.
"Mr. Trump, as a former president and Republican candidate, has already received an enhanced level of security, and I have consistently directed the Secret Service to provide him with all necessary resources, capabilities, and protection measures to ensure his continued safety," Biden assured.
Expressing relief that Trump is recovering, Biden mentioned their recent conversation. "Jill and I have him in our prayers. We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed. He was a father, protecting his family from the shots fired," Biden added.
No Motive Known
Biden interrupted his weekend in Delaware on Saturday evening and returned to the White House for real-time updates on the incident.
The Situation Room briefing on Sunday included top officials from law enforcement and national security: Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Chris Wray, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Deputy National Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle.
Biden cautioned against speculation regarding the attacker's motives. "Let the FBI and its partner agencies do their job. I have instructed that this investigation be thorough and swift, and investigators will have all the resources they need to do so," he urged.
"In America, there is no place for this type of violence or any violence," Biden emphasized. "Moreover, assassination attempts go against everything we stand for as a nation. This is not who we are as a nation. This is not America, and we cannot allow this to happen. Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that," he concluded.
President Biden announced that he will address the nation extensively from the Oval Office on Sunday at 8:00 PM local time.
