JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Days after an attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson expressed concern for the victims and safety around such political events.
Parson shared more about his reaction to the attempted assassination in an exclusive interview Wednesday with FOX 2 Missouri Capitol Bureau Reporter Emily Manley.
The FBI is investigating shots fired on July 13 at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania as an attempted assassination. Trump’s campaign says he was shot in the ear. One spectator was hurt and two others were critically injured while the shooter was shot dead by the Secret Service.
Parson says he has not spoken with Trump personally since the attempt, though he has spoken to people close to him.
The governor emphasized the need to address and prevent such acts of violence.
“It was terrible what we’ve all seen and how close we kind of see a person being executed right in front of our eyes,” said Parson.
“The thing that kind of bothers me as a politician is all the innocent bystanders,” he continued. “The people that lost their lives. The 50-year-old gentleman that lost his life and family. As a candidate, we all want people to come to our rallies. The president wants the same thing, he wants people around him. I do as a governor when you have big crowds around you. But all of a sudden, they become part of the risk factor too in this day and time. It’s why this violence has got to slow down. It’s got to stop. We got to do things to make sure these things are not happening on a random basis.”
Parson, a former sheriff, also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability from law enforcement and admitting to faults when it comes to security.
“As a law enforcement guy, people need to come forward as soon as they can and be transparent about this,” said Parson. “If they screwed up, they screwed up, and they ought to admit it. They should admit it by now. I’m going to say that they did without a doubt. To allow that to happen in front of our eyes in today’s world was about as scary as it could be.”
Parson also reflected on how near-death experiences could change the perspective of Trump and others.
“We as candidates get to go up there and be center stage, but those people that got hurt and lost their lives, it has to weigh on your heart,” said Parson. “It would weigh on mine. I know it does on President Trump’s.”
Trump is expected to accept Republican nomination in the 2024 U.S. Presidential race on Thursday after serving as the 45th U.S. President from 2017-2021.
