President Trump on Friday denounced the rash of suspected mail bombs sent to high-profile Democrats and his own critics as “despicable” “terrorizing acts,” as he celebrated an arrest made in the case.
“I am pleased to inform you that law enforcement has apprehended the suspect and taken him into custody,” Trump said at the beginning of an address to the Young Black Leadership Summit, and was met with wild applause.
“It’s an incredible job by law enforcement. We carried out a far reaching federal and state investigation to find the person or persons responsible for these events. These terrorizing acts are despicable and have no place in our country. No place,” he continued.
“I have instructed authorities to spare no resource or expense in finding those responsible in bringing them to swift and certain justice. And we will prosecute them, him, her, whoever it may be to the fullest extent of the law. We must never allow political violence to take root in America. cannot let it happen.”
Trump’s comments came after law enforcement took Cesar Sayoc Jr., 56, into custody in Florida.
The president struck a very different tone to comments he made earlier Friday on Twitter, where he griped that he was being blamed for the spate of suspicious packages and that the controversy was affecting the GOP ahead of the midterm elections.
“Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, ‘it’s just not Presidential!’” he tweeted.
Yet to the leadership summit, Trump remarked: “The bottom line is that Americans must unify and we must show the world that we are united together in peace, love, and harmony as fellow American citizens,” Trump said.
A dozen parcels containing devices that appeared to be pipe bombs were sent to high-profile Democrats and critics of Trump this week, including former President Obama, Hillary Clinton and actor Robert De Niro.
