Pedro Sanchez has condemned the alleged attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Washington.
The Spanish prime minister posted a message on X on Sunday, hours after gunfire broke out during the White House correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton.
Sanchez said: ‘Violence is never the way. Humanity will only move forward through democracy, coexistence and peace.’
Trump, alongside First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J. D. Vance and members of his cabinet, was evacuated after shots were heard shortly after the event began.
This is the third known attempt on Trump’s life since his presidential campaign in 2024 – during which there were two.
Political reactions in Spain
Opposition leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo also condemned the attack, stating: ‘Political disagreement is resolved with words, not bullets. We must defend democracy.’
However, hard-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal responded with a sharp attack on Sanchez, writing:
‘Sanchez talking about violence is like him talking about the exploitation of minors.’
International leaders also reacted quickly.
Ursula von der Leyen said she was ‘relieved’ that Trump and those attending were safe, adding: “Violence has no place in politics, ever.”
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu said he was ‘shocked’ by the attack but relieved that Trump and his wife were safe.
Argentina’s Javier Milei condemned what he called a ‘new assassination attempt’, blaming ‘violent rhetoric from the global left’ for creating a climate of aggression.
In the US, former speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi described the incident as a ‘terrifying act of violence’, praising security forces for their rapid response.
