GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Leaders and former presidential family members are speaking out after the attempted assassination of Former President Donald Trump during a rally Saturday night in Pennsylvania.
"I think all of us, no matter our party, no matter where we come from, have to work together to de-escalate the tension and the divisiveness we’re witnessing in this country and remember that as a country united we stand, divided we fall,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D).
Susan Ford Bales recalled the two assassination attempts against her father, Gerald R. Ford, when 13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with her at a wreath-laying ceremony held on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for his 111th birthday.
When she learned of the assassination attempt against Former President Donald Trump, she said it was a feeling that hit close to home.
"I had just landed in Grand Rapids when I first heard about it yesterday and having two assassination attempts on my father, my heart just immediately went out to his family,” Susan Ford Bales said. "It's a very unsettling feeling. It's upsetting to see our democracy being fought with guns instead of being cohesive together."
Dingell said the country needs to come together during this time.
“It did affect me personally, I don't want to see violence against anybody," Dingell said. "I am worried about what's happening in this country. I’m somebody who talks about it a lot. Donald Trump and I don't always agree, sometimes he says not so nice things about me, but I don't want anything to happen to him.”
As the investigation continues into what happened, both women said it's important to remember to stand together and be united as a country.