SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — An assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump has the country and world’s attention.
Here in South Dakota, KELOLAND’s Jordan DeSmet talked with U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, Senator Mike Rounds and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley to learn about their reactions to the shooting.
Former President Donald Trump, who is soon to become the GOP’s nominee for president this year formally, sustained minor injuries in the assassination attempt. One person in the crowd lost his life, and two more were critically injured.
The violence has left Rep. Dusty Johnson questioning the Secret Service.
“The Secret Service failed America yesterday, and it’s a problem not just because of what happened yesterday, but it’s also a problem for tomorrow and every day thereafter. We have presidential candidates who have threats on their lives every single day. And I think we all should have serious questions about whether or not the Secret Service is up to the task of protecting them,” Johnson said.
“The first thing I want to say is, is that this is never acceptable and that everybody should take a deep breath. And leaders, rather than inflaming, need to tell everybody to calm down,” Rounds said.
The shooter is identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service sniper seconds after firing at Trump.
“Certainly no elected official is immune, including myself, from violence. And we’ve had it here in South Dakota. I just had recently prosecuted the case involving the threats to both the governor and a judge. We’ve had that happen from occasion. I think it signifies the importance of addressing those threats ahead of time, making it serious,” Jackley said.
Jackley, Johnson and Rounds all agree that now is a more important time than ever for politicians on both sides to come together.
“I think you see Republican, Democrat, independent candidates and voters saying that they don’t support this type of violence,” Jackley said.
“Generally, in the wake of tragedy, Americans come together. They unify. Let’s hope that happens. Because, frankly, the more that we are divided, the more anger, frustration, fear and violence we have in the system,” Johnson said.
We are Americans first, not Republicans, Democrats or independents. We’re Americans first. Let’s join together. Let’s denounce this violence,” Rounds said.
We reached out to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sen. John Thune for interviews but did not hear back.
