Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed sympathies to former U.S. President Donald Trump after Saturday’s shooting in Pennsylvania, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng tweeted Sunday.
“We wish Mr. Trump and all the injured a speedy recovery,” he added.
The embassy did not immediately respond to questions on how or when the message was conveyed to Trump.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier issued a statement saying: “China is following the shooting incident at the campaign rally of former US President Donald Trump. President Xi Jinping has expressed sympathies to former President Trump.”
Unlike other Asian leaders, who posted messages directly to social media, Xi communicated through spokespeople.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol tweeted that he was “appalled by the hideous act of political violence.” Wishing Trump a speedy recovery, he wrote: “The people of Korea stand in solidarity with the people of America.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Deeply concerned by the attack on my friend, former President Donald Trump.”
“Violence has no place in politics and democracies,” Modi wrote.
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo tweeted that he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the shooting and added: “All forms of violence have no place in democracy around the world.”
Trump himself appealed for unity Sunday morning on his Truth Social platform.
“Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening,” he wrote.
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump wrote, soon adding that he looked forward to attending the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
His wife, former first lady Melania Trump, said in a statement Sunday morning: “When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” referring to their 18-year-old son.
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion — his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,” she wrote in a rare disclosure on their relationship. “The core facets of my husband’s life — his human side — were buried below the political machine.”
Meanwhile, the shooting may have implications for the discussion within the Democratic Party over whether President Joe Biden is the right candidate to beat Trump in November’s election, CBS reported. Biden has been under pressure to reconsider his candidacy after faring poorly against Trump in the June 27 presidential debate.
Democrats with concerns about Biden “are now standing down” and will back the president because of the fragile political moment, CBS chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa said on the network’s “Face the Nation” show Sunday morning.
“All of that talk about the debate faded almost instantly, among my top Democratic sources as this unfolded, say it’s time for the country to stick together, and that means Democrats sticking together as well,” he said.
