White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday described the foiled attack at the White House Correspondents Association dinner as the third major assassination attempt against US President Donald Trump.
Leavitt, in her first briefing for reporters since the Saturday night incident, confirmed that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting with officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the US Secret Service and the White House operations team to "ensure the safety and the security of the president."
A gun-wielding suspect was stopped by Secret Service guards before he could enter the crowded hotel ballroom where Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and many other top US officials were gathered for the annual dinner.
Leavitt blames political rhetoric for spurring political violence
Leavitt blamed harsh political rhetoric for fostering an environment where someone might want to attack the president.
"We should not live in a country where such constant fear of political violence permeates," she said.
Trump believes security protocols during the armed attack at the White House Correspondents Association dinner worked, Leavitt also said, although she did not rule out possible changes to further improve the safety and security of the president.
Leavitt also told reporters that Trump had discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with Tehran with his top national security aides, but did not share any conclusions which might have been reached during the discussion.