World Leaders, Trump Express Condolences Over Shinzo Abe’s Assassination: ‘Fierce & Distinguished Leader’
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World leaders and former President Donald Trump expressed condolences on Friday over the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Abe was shot during a campaign speech for his Liberal Democratic Party. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The suspect is in custody.
While President Joe Biden has yet to weigh in on Abe’s death, other world leaders and Trump have.
The State of Israel mourns the death of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe following today’s horrific attack.
He was a fierce & distinguished leader and a key architect of modern Israel-Japan relations.
Sending condolences to his family, loved ones and the Japanese people.
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) July 8, 2022
Profondément choqué par l’attaque odieuse dont Shinzo Abe a été victime. Pensées à la famille et aux proches d’un grand Premier ministre. La France se tient aux côtés du peuple japonais.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 8, 2022
Incredibly sad news about Shinzo Abe.
His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the Japanese people.
The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 8, 2022
The assassination of @AbeShinzo leaves me shocked and deeply saddened. My deepest sympathy goes to his family, my colleague Fumio @kishida230 and our Japanese friends. We stand closely by Japan’s side in these difficult hours.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) July 8, 2022
Horrible news of a brutal assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. I am extending my deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. This heinous act of violence has no excuse.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2022
As a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a one day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022
Trump on Shinzo Abe: pic.twitter.com/rfTv0V0yTS
— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) July 8, 2022
UPDATE: 9:20 a.m. ET: Biden put out a statement mourning Abe:
I am stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed while campaigning. This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him. I had the privilege to work closely with Prime Minister Abe. As Vice President, I visited him in Tokyo and welcomed him to Washington. He was a champion of the Alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people. The longest serving Japanese Prime Minister, his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific will endure. Above all, he cared deeply about the Japanese people and dedicated his life to their service. Even at the moment he was attacked, he was engaged in the work of democracy. While there are many details that we do not yet know, we know that violent attacks are never acceptable and that gun violence always leaves a deep scar on the communities that are affected by it. The United States stands with Japan in this moment of grief. I send my deepest condolences to his family.
