By Ncaba Ntshakala
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has issued a strong condemnation of the attempted assassination of former United States President Donald Trump.
In a statement released on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government, and the People of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Prime Minister expressed deep dismay over the violent incident and emphasized the nation’s commitment to peace and security.
“On behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government and the People of the Kingdom of Eswatini, we would like to condemn the attempted assassination of former President of the United States of America Donald Trump,” the statement began.
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“Violence in any form is unacceptable and goes against the values of peace and safety that we hold dear. It is imperative that we stand united in condemning such acts and work towards creating a secure environment for all people across the world.”
Prime Minister Dlamini extended heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to the former President and offered condolences to the family of the deceased victim.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he added.
The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, when Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee in the 2024 presidential election, was shot and wounded at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired eight rounds from an AR-15–style rifle from the roof of a nearby building.
The attack resulted in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and critically injured two other audience members. Crooks was subsequently killed by a United States Secret Service Counter Sniper Team sniper.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Trump took cover and was surrounded by Secret Service personnel before being helped to his feet.
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Despite visible injuries, he showed resilience by pumping his fist in the air and shouting or mouthing the words “Fight! Fight! Fight!” before being escorted to his motorcade and taken to a hospital.
Trump was released a few hours later in stable condition.
The shooting, which is being investigated as an attempted assassination and a potential domestic terrorist act, has sparked widespread bipartisan sympathy for Trump.
Political figures from both the Democratic and Republican parties have called for increased security measures for major election candidates.
Experts have pointed to the incident as a stark sign of political polarization in the United States and have urged for efforts to reduce tensions.