The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has held this Sunday a telephone conversation with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, after the attempted attack registered during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington.
The community leader explained in a message disseminated on social networks that she wanted to personally convey her solidarity to both the US president and the first lady, Melania Trump, after the thwarted attack that forced the evacuation of the event.
European support after the attack
Von der Leyen also highlighted the performance of the US security services, whose rapid intervention prevented greater consequences. According to her, no one was seriously injured and the police officer hit during the operation is recovering.
The president of the Commission wanted to focus on the institutional response to the incident, underlining the effectiveness of the deployed device to protect attendees and neutralize the suspect.
Joint message against political violence
In her publication, Von der Leyen added that during the conversation with Trump both agreed on a central idea: political violence has no place in democracies.
The phrase reflects the growing concern among Western governments about the increase in political tension and attacks directed against public representatives, especially in contexts of high polarization.
International chain reaction
The call from Von der Leyen is added to other international reactions produced in the last few hours. Various European and Western leaders have condemned the attack and expressed relief that Trump emerged unharmed.
From Brussels, the European Commission's response also seeks to project transatlantic unity at a particularly sensitive moment for US policy.