MPs condemn political violence after ‘shocking’ White House Correspondents’ Dinner assault | UNW

Labor minister Tanya Plibersek and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce have condemned political violence in the wake of the “shocking” White House Correspondents’ Dinner attack, marking a moment of unity for the long-time rivals.

The annual dinner was thrown into chaos at the weekend after gunshots were heard at the venue, with Secret Service swooping in to shield US President Donald Trump as the thousands of high-profile guests were evacuated from the building.

Authorities have taken a 31-year-old Californian teacher into custody and said the target was “likely” Mr Trump.

“Nobody should ever try and express a political opinion by using violence,” Ms Plibersek told Seven’s Sunrise on Monday, adding that she was “pleased that no one was seriously hurt” and that a Secret Service officer shot in the attack was released from hospital.

“People have a right to express their political opinions, they don’t have a right to use violence to try and enforce those political opinions.”

Mr Joyce, her usual sparring partner on the morning show, echoed the remarks and said political violence was becoming too common in the US.

“But I think the egalitarian nature of Australia remains still intact,” he said.

“We are so blessed here that … Tanya and myself, we wander around, we don’t need bodyguards. We do our shopping like other people. And that’s just the nature of Australia.”

He said the US “has a history of being a lot more … violent, to be quite frank, when it comes to how they deal in their politics”.

Political violence has been rising in Australia, with MPs across the political spectrum referring record numbers of death threats to the Australian Federal Police.

Anthony Albanese is among them.

Researchers have pointed to social media as a catalyst.

In the US, investigators allege the suspect, Cole Allen, sent family members a note referring to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and “apologizing to everyone whose trust I abused” ahead of the attack.

The note detailed an alleged plan to target Trump administration officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest” and warned that he would reluctantly attack guests if needed.

Mr Trump has branded the suspect a “very troubled guy” with hatred for Christians.

“He had a lot of hatred in his heart for quite a while,” he told Fox News.

“His family knew that he had difficulty … maybe they should have reported him a little bit more strongly, probably, but it’s a hard thing to do, I guess.”