Kamala Harris calls Donald Trump: Political rivals' cordial exchange amidst turmoil
Vice President Kamala Harris called former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The Democratic presidential candidate said she did so to check his well-being. On Monday, President Joe Biden had spoken with Trump.
18 September 2024 07:14
Vice President Harris called former President Trump this afternoon to speak with him directly and express gratitude that he is safe. A White House representative told the journalists that it was a cordial and brief conversation.
When asked about it during an interview with representatives of the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia, Harris said that she called to check on Trump's well-being.
"I told him what I have said publicly, there's no place for political violence in our country. I am in this election, in this race for many reasons, including to fight for our democracy, and in a democracy, there is no place for political violence," she stated.
The Democratic candidate said that she feels safe under Secret Service protection but added that many people threatened by violence do not have such protection. She pointed out that this includes Haitian immigrants in Ohio.
Over 30 evacuations, including schools, have been carried out recently due to threats. This was related to rumours spread by Trump and vice presidential candidate JD Vance about migrants abducting and eating pets.
Biden called Trump earlier
The conversation between the competitors in the upcoming presidential elections occurred a day after President Biden called Trump, who also had a "cordial" conversation with him. During a live discussion on the X platform, Trump said Biden was "very nice" and called to ensure everything was okay.
The former president said at the same time that he needs more people to secure his rallies.
"We do need more people on my detail, because we have 50,000, 60,000 people showing up to events, and, you know, other people don’t have that, but he (President Biden - ed.) couldn’t have been nicer," Trump said.
Failed assassination attempt
The would-be assassin was detained on Sunday after Secret Service agents spotted him hiding in the bushes under the fence of Trump's golf club with an AK-47 rifle equipped with an optical sight. According to investigators, the man was between 275 and 450 metres from the former president and had the gun aimed at him.
Ryan Routh, detained in connection with the suspected assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Florida, appeared in federal court on Monday and was charged with illegal possession of a firearm. More charges are expected.
The man had several prior convictions, including for illegal possession of a machine gun, with which he barricaded himself in a shop during an escape from police in North Carolina in 2010.