Biden delivers Oval Office address on Trump assassination attempt: 'We must not go down this road'

President Joe Biden urged Americans to "lower the temperature in our politics" and condemned the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. 

Biden addressed the country from the Oval Office Sunday night. 

"Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know," he said.  "A former president was shot, an American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot - we must not - go down this road in America. We've traveled it before throughout our history; violence has never been the answer."

"Whether it's with members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the capitol on January 6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi,  or intimidation on election officials or the kidnapping plot against the governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump - there's no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever. Period."

"The political rhetoric in this country has gotten heated, it’s time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that," he continued. 

Biden also called for unity, saying that he will continue to push to preserve the country's democracy.  

The attempt happened Saturday at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Penn. 

Earlier Sunday, Biden said he and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed by the FBI, Homeland Security and other top security officials, and that he’d be speaking about the situation "at greater length" later Sunday evening from the Oval Office. His remarks are expected at 8 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, Biden said he’s called for a review of every security detail for the Republican National Convention, which is beginning tomorrow in Milwaukee. 

He also said he’s called for an independent review of the security detail at Saturday’s rally to "assess exactly what happened." 

And he called for unity and said an assassination attempt "is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation."

"It’s not American," he said. "Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is (as) important than that as of now."

His calls for unity were among those from other top lawmakers and former presidents. 

Former President Barack Obama said there is "absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy." And former President George W. Bush called the shooting a "cowardly attack on his life" and commended the Secret Service "for their speedy response."

READ MORE: Shooting at Trump rally prompts reaction from allies, rivals: ‘Horrified’

Trump rally shooting

The former president was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when at least five shots were fired. 

Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Agents quickly created a shield around him. 

When he finally stood, his face bloodied, he pumped his fist to cheering supporters. Trump and his motorcade left the scene and he was checked into a medical facility in Pennsylvania.

He later flew to New Jersey, landing shortly after midnight at Newark Liberty International Airport.

RELATED: Where is Donald Trump today?

Was Trump shot? 

Trump released a statement on his Truth Social platform shortly after being whisked away from the rally, saying he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear."

Law enforcement officials have not confirmed Trump was hit with a bullet.

Trump shooter

The Secret Service shot and killed the would-be assassin, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks from a Pittsburgh suburb not far from the campaign rally in Butler. 

RELATED: What we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the alleged shooter at Trump's rally

Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a person familiar with the matter. Bomb-making materials were found inside Crooks’ vehicle near the Trump rally and at his home, according to two officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden reiterated Sunday afternoon in his brief remarks that a motive was not yet known, and urged the American people to not "make assumptions" about the suspect's motives or affiliations. 

"Let the FBI do their job," he said.  

This story was reported from Detroit. The Associated Press contributed.