Leavitt: “Saturday was supposed to be a joyful evening”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday condemned the shooting that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend and praised law enforcement for their swift response.

“Saturday was supposed to be a joyful evening celebrating free speech and the First Amendment with all of you, members of the press,” she began her briefing. “Instead, the night was hijacked by a crazed anti-Trump individual who traveled across the country to assassinate the president and as many administration officials as possible.”

It marked the third major assassination attempt against President Trump in recent years, following incidents in Butler, Pennsylvania, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

“No other president in history has faced such repeated serious attempts on his life,” Ms. Leavitt said. “This political violence stems from a systemic demonization of him and his supporters by commentators, yes, by elected members of the Democrat Party and even some in the media.”

Ms. Leavitt praised President Trump’s resolve, saying he was willing to take on the risk out of love for his country.

“President Trump is fearless because he loves this country,” she said. “And he is willing to put his own life on the line to deliver on the promises that he made to the American public who elected him here into the highest office in the land.”

The press secretary also called on Americans to settle their differences peacefully, condemning extreme rhetoric.

“We can and we should have fierce disagreements in this country. As you all know, we disagree often,” she said. “But those disagreements must remain peaceful. Debating, peaceful protesting and voting are how we need to settle disagreements, not bullets.”

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