‘Biden was so nice’: Trump takes a pause from the rhetoric at Flint rally
“It’s a dangerous business being president,” Donald Trump said to rapturous applause inside the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan.
This was his first public appearance since his golf course became a crime scene on Sunday afternoon.
He was being questioned by a fawning interviewer in Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his former press secretary and now the governor of Arkansas.
“Mr President, nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” she said, inviting him to retell what happened when he heard shots ring out from between holes five and six at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“I have to say, Secret Service did a hell of a job,” he said. “One of the agents was walking a couple of holes in front and he saw a rifle.”
Trump appeared with former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Pic: Reuters
Trump then joked that a woman who witnessed the suspect running and took photos of his vehicle did so because “women are smarter than men”.
Secret Service agents, who were flanking both sides of the stage as he retold the tale, stared intently into the stands of the arena, scanning for danger.
At one point, Trump excitedly asked the agent who spotted the suspected gunman to identify himself to the crowd, but quickly decided better of it.
Trump had previously, and without evidence, blamed the “rhetoric” of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for inspiring the apparent would-be assassin.
Pic: Reuters
But that sort of finger-pointing was absent on Tuesday evening.
Instead, he was almost gushing as he told the crowd about phone conversations he had with the president and vice president over the past couple of days.
“President Biden was so nice,” Trump said. “I do feel he’s so, so nice.”
About Harris, he said: “I got a very nice call from Kamala. It was very nice. It was very nice.” Some in the crowd shouted out “she’s a liar”, but Trump shook his head.
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Trump meets officers who arrested golf course suspect
I ask Brian Menasco, from nearby Columbiaville, if he thinks it was a concerted effort by Trump to lower the political temperature.
“I think so,” he says. “I’ve wanted him to do that since 2016. He’s amazing but sometimes I think ‘why has he said that’.”
Trump was scheduled to appear in Flint, Michigan, before the apparent assassination attempt – but the venue was no accident.
He won Michigan in 2016 but lost it to Joe Biden four years later. If he is to get back into the White House, he must win over voters in key swing states like this.
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Flint, about an hour’s drive northwest of Detroit, is known for a man-made water crisis in 2014.
Lead contaminated the drinking supply here, killing at least a dozen people, poisoning many more and leaving part of the population still traumatised 10 years later.
It’s also known as “vehicle city”, its economy shaped by the auto industry and shattered by its decline.
The North Dort Highway, though, is still peppered with garages selling car parts, others fixing vintage motors and a couple of yards buying and selling scrap metal.
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Gary Grundy says both political parties need to ‘calm down’
At Trevor’s Tires, I find Gary Grundy with his friends loading several tyres into the boot of his SUV.
Gary is an independent voter and says there is a shared responsibility of both the Republican and Democratic parties to tone down the rhetoric.
“When I heard, I was like, that’s two attempts on his life, that’s kind of crazy,” he said.
“But the talk on both sides needs to be dialled down. When they said people were in Ohio eating cats and dogs, now they’ve got school bomb attempts and all that.
“So the rhetoric on both sides needs to calm down, it’s collective responsibility.”
Kristin Martinez, a Trump voter, says the Democrats should shoulder some responsibility for the attempts on Trump’s life.
“I really do think that they are responsible for, you know, maybe not calling out somebody to do it, but, you know, their words triggered somebody.”
But even with a nod from Trump to civility from across the political aisle, with 49 days to go until the election and the race intensifying, the potential for political violence persists.
The King has written to former US president Joe Biden after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Buckingham Palace said
The monarch, who is undergoing his own treatment for an undisclosed cancer, hosted the 82-year-old for tea and talks at Windsor in July 2023.
Mr Biden was diagnosed on Friday, with tests revealing the cancer had spread to his bones.
The former president posted an image of himself and his wife Jill on X on Monday and wrote: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The King and Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in July 2023. Pic: Reuters
The King’s letter comes after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer”.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment,” he added.
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former US president Barack Obama said: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family.
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Read more: Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer
Barack Obama (right) with Joe Biden at a campaign event in 2022. File pic: Reuters
After a poor debate performance against Mr Trump and amid escalating concerns around his age and fitness to serve, Mr Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election race and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.
Ms Harris wrote on X after his diagnosis: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.
“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
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Mr Biden’s diagnosis: What we know
Former US president Bill Clinton wrote on social media: “My friend Joe Biden’s always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts.”
Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016, said she was “thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from”.
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson said it was “sad news” and his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying” for Mr Biden.
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Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi described Mr Biden as a “great American patriot” and said she was “praying for him to have strength and a swift recovery”.
Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, wrote on social media that he and his wife were “united in prayer for the Biden Family during this difficult time”.
Politicians have sent messages of support to Joe Biden, who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 82-year-old, who is the oldest person to ever serve as US president, was described as a “fighter” with people wishing him a “fast and full recovery”.
US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former US president Barack Obama said: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family.
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Read more: Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer
Barack Obama (right) with Joe Biden at a campaign event in 2022. File pic: Reuters
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer”.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment,” he added.
After a poor debate performance against Mr Trump and amid escalating concerns for his health, Mr Biden withdrew from the 2024 election and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.
Ms Harris wrote on X: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.
“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
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Mr Biden’s diagnosis: What we know
Former US president Bill Clinton wrote on social media: “My friend Joe Biden’s always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts.”
Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016, said she was “thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from”.
Speaker of the US House Of Representatives Mike Johnson said it was “sad news” and his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying” for Mr Biden.
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UK and EU sign reset deal – live updates
Gary Lineker to leave BBC next week
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi described Mr Biden as a “great American patriot” and said she was “praying for him to have strength and a swift recovery”.
Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, wrote on social media he and his wife were “united in prayer for the Biden Family during this difficult time”.
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