Biden Asks America to Unite and Vows Swift Inquiry of Attempted Assassination of Trump

President Biden on Sunday called on Americans to “unite as one nation” following the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump, and vowed that the federal government would conduct a “thorough and swift” investigation into the gunman’s motives and an independent review of security at the rally.

In brief remarks to the nation from the White House, Mr. Biden called the assassination attempt “contrary to everything we stand for as a nation — everything. It’s not who we are as a nation. It’s not American. And we cannot allow this to happen.”

Mr. Biden said that he had a “short but good conversation” with Mr. Trump on Saturday night after the shooting but did not elaborate.

“I’m sincerely grateful that he’s doing well and recovering,” Mr. Biden said. “Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers.”

The president said he would address the nation again from the Oval Office on Sunday night about the assassination attempt on his political rival, which occurred at a political rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, two days before Mr. Trump was set to attend his party’s nominating convention in Milwaukee. Mr. Trump has said the convention will proceed as planned and was scheduled to fly to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Biden’s campaign has pulled down its political ads and canceled political travel by the president and the vice president that had been scheduled for the beginning of the week, although Mr. Biden is still scheduled to be interviewed by Lester Holt of NBC News on Monday.