Prominent Arizonans react after assassination attempt on Donald Trump

In Arizona, a state Donald Trump narrowly lost in 2020, the former president’s allies have called for prayers in the wake of the assassination attempt on his life, while his political opponents have decried political violence — and demanded accountability for what some are calling the Secret Service’s “security failure.”

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Kari Lake, the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in the state’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, said on X that she was “shaken and horrified by the assassination attempt on President Trump’s life today.”

In an appearance on Right Side Broadcasting Network, Lake said “I also pray that this great Republic, that we can come together as Americans. We got a lot of work ahead, and we’re just blessed beyond measure to have President Trump ready to lead us.”

Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011 while at a meeting with her constituents in Tucson, released a statement saying “Political violence is terrifying. I know.”

“I’m holding former President Trump, and all those affected by today’s indefensible act of violence in my heart,” the Democrat said. “Political violence is un-American and is never acceptable — never.”

U.S. Sen. Mary Kelly of Arizona, also a Democrat, echoed his wife’s sentiment in a post to X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Gabby and I are horrified by the incident in Pennsylvania,” he said. “No one should ever have to experience political violence — we know that firsthand. We’re keeping former President Trump, his family, and everyone involved in our thoughts.

Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman, the state’s elected RNC national committeeman and leader of the local far-right Freedom Caucus, attacked the media and liberals as “assassination deniers,” claiming they spread misinformation and disinformation by not immediately reporting the incident as an attempt on Trump’s life in the minutes and hours after the shooting at a Butler, Pa. campaign rally.

“Trump Derangement Syndrome is real,” Hoffman also wrote on X. “They just tried to kill President Trump. Pray for President Trump. Pray for our nation.”

Other Republicans used the attempt on Trump’s life, and images of the former president pumping his fist in the air as he was whisked offstage by Secret Service agents, as a contrast to President Joe Biden, who’s faced criticism over his fitness to serve following a disastrous performance in a recent debate.

Tyler Bowyer, an executive with Turning Point Action, the advocacy arm of an Arizona-based right wing group founded by Trump ally Charlie Kirk, wrote, “Joe Biden can’t complete sentences, Donald Trump fist pumps after assassination attempts. Pick your POTUS.”

Arizona Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda released a statement on the incident, thanking God for Trump’s safety and praying for his family, rally-goers and the Secret Cervice.

The statement read in part: “We urge all Americans — no matter their party — to join us in condemning this atrocity and in praying for the continued safety and well-being of President Trump and all our leaders.”

The Arizona Democratic Party responded to the news on X, saying: “Any act of political violence must be strongly condemned. Our thoughts are with the attendees of today’s rally. We wish former President Trump and other rally goers a speedy recovery.”

Republican Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs also decried the shooting, saying in a post to X that "violence is unacceptable. Law and order must prevail. Mr. President, we stand with you."

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs had a similar reaction, saying political violence "has no place in this country.”

“I am glad that former President Trump is safe, and hope that others at the rally were not seriously injured,” Hobbs said. “I hope the perpetrator of this heinous act will be swiftly brought to justice.”

Also in a post to X, Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell joined the chorus of people decrying the violence, saying: "This is horrifying. Violence is never the answer. Praying for a full and speedy recovery for President Trump."

Meanwhile, other members of the state GOP used X to make politically charged statements.

State Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) reposted a statement from Dr. Ben Carson, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration. Carson said: "They tried to bankrupt him. They tried to slander him. They tried to imprison him. Now they have tried to kill him, but if God is protecting him, they will never succeed."

In the repost, Petersen added: "Perfectly said Dr. Carson!"

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the state’s U.S. Senate race, issued a statement from his congressional office demanding answers from Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.

”The bottom line: this was a failure in security,” Gallego stated. “There should never have been a clear line of sight on the former president. My Marine Corps training taught me that.”

“Those responsible for the planning, approving and executing of this clearly insufficient security plan need to testify before Congress and be held accountable.”