NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — In the hours following Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the NYPD was mobilized to provide increased security to certain sites across New York City.
“The events that unfolded at today’s rally in Pennsylvania are horrific,” Mayor Eric Adams wrote on X shortly after the former president was shot in the ear. “Political violence has no place in this country.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD is surging officers to certain sites across the five boroughs,” Adams said after offering his prayers to Trump, his family and all those in attendance at the Pennsylvania rally.
Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy said that while City Hall sees “no nexus to NYC at this time” the NYPD increased its presence across the city, including at Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street, Foley Square and City Hall.
City Hall confirmed Sunday afternoon that increased security at Trump Tower was continuing throughout the day as people from the United States and abroad took pictures outside of the Fifth Avenue building.
“This high profile of a person that's a Republican nominee for president, or even the current President Joe Biden, they should have the almost perfect protection and where this never happens in our country,” Mike Randall, of Florida, told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880.
“It's a terrible thing that happened. I am not [a] supporter of Mr Trump, but this cannot happen in a democracy,” another woman added.
Adams gathered a group of faith and political leaders in the City Hall Rotunda on Sunday afternoon to call for unity in the wake of the attack.
Rev. Al Sharpton spoke first, stating that the purpose of the address is for leaders across faiths and politics to deal with the normalization of political violence.
“There is no secret that I’ve been an adamant opponent of [Trump] on many issues, and he and I have debated and fought for 35 years,” Sharpton said. “But violence is wrong. No matter who you oppose, we must have a nation that celebrates the diversity of our views and the democracy of our decisions.”
Sharpton also stated the importance of affirming, in Trump’s hometown, that the leaders gathered do not condone any violence against him, his family or supporters.
Politicians across the political spectrum, domestic and foreign, have made statements condemning the political violence at Trump’s rally, offering well wishes to the former president as he recovers from the wound to the right ear.
Gov. Kathy Hochul—a vocal critic of Trump—was one of the many governors who released a statement wishing for the health and safety of both Trump and everyone in attendance at the rally.
“Any violence against a fellow American is disgusting and unacceptable,” she wrote. “We must express political disagreements peacefully, civilly and respectfully.”
This sentiment was backed by state Congress leaders, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Senate majority and House minority leaders.
“I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country,” Schumer said.
Jeffries expressed his thanks “for the decisive law enforcement response,” adding that political violence is unacceptable and that “America is a democracy.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated that he and county officials have taken measures to ensure the safety of prominent political figures across the political spectrum.
“Rest assured that we will do everything possible to make sure that high profile political people in our county are safe regardless of what party they’re in,” Blakeman said.
He also called on President Joe Biden to keep Trump safe throughout the campaign, election day and thereafter.