Obama Calls on Americans to ‘Reject the Idea that Violence Has Any Place in Our Democracy’
Former President Barack Obama responded to the thwarted assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, as well as his cabinet members, by calling on Americans to “reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy.”
The former president released his call for peace on Sunday in a statement on X.
“Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama said.
“It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. I’m grateful to them – and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay,” he added.
Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy. It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 26, 2026
A man, now identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly intended to target the president and several of his cabinet members during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday night. A resident of the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, Allen allegedly traveled across the country by train and came to the Washington Hilton armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. (Read more from “Obama Calls on Americans to ‘Reject the Idea that Violence Has Any Place in Our Democracy’” HERE)
