Biden Urges Nation to ‘Lower the Temperature’ in Politics After Trump Shooting

‘The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people—not in the hands of would-be assassins,’ the president said.

President Joe Biden delivers a nationally televised address from the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2024. Pool/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden on July 14 addressed the nation from the Oval Office, highlighting a need to “lower the temperature in our politics” in the wake of the assassination attempt against his 2024 political rival, former President Donald Trump.

“We are not enemies. We’re neighbors or friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we’re fellow Americans,” the president said. “We must stand together.”