"The attack on US presidential candidate Donald Trump is despicable. I wish him a speedy recovery. My thoughts are also with the people who were affected by the attack. Such acts of violence threaten democracy," Scholz said on X.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed shock at the incident, and spoke of "dark hours for American democracy".
"The news of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump shocked me deeply," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"In democracies, elections are decided by ballot papers and not by weapons," she said.
Die Nachricht von dem Attentat auf Donald Trump hat mich zutiefst schockiert.
— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) July 14, 2024
Gewalt darf niemals zum Mittel der politischen Auseinandersetzung werden - ganz egal aus welchem Grund. Wahlen werden in Demokratien mit dem Stimmzettel entschieden und nicht mit Waffen. 1/2
"In these dark hours for American democracy, my thoughts are with the victims of the attack. I wish Donald Trump and the other injured a speedy recovery."
Trump was hit in the ear in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The shots also killed a bystander and injured others.
The gunman was shot dead. His motive remains unknown.
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