BREAKING: Biden says voters must solve issues at the ‘battle box,’ offers prayers for ‘former Trump’

"We're neighbors, we're friends, coworkers, citizens," he told his "fellow Americans," saying that "we're not enemies." He went on to say "we must stand together," saying it was time to "lower the temperature" and "take a step back."

"Thankfully," he said, "former Trump is not injured" [sic], he said, noting again, as he did this morning and last evening in a post, that they spoke on the phone. And he again offered condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, who was killed by the would-be assassin's bullet. Biden had no update on the investigation, saying that it was ongoing and that was still no information as to what the motivation of Thomas Matthew Cooks, the 20-year-old Pennsylvania gunman, was.

"We cannot, we must not go down this road in America," Biden said, who then stated that violence is not the answer to political problems in America. As he discussed the attack on a man who is not only his political opponent but his political enemy, Biden referenced January 6, 2021, a riot that he and Democrats have attempted to frame the election around. He also spoke about the FBI-involved kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

"Violence has never been the answer," he said, "whether it's with members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot," he said, referring to the 2017 congressional baseball game where Republican Rep. Steve Scalise was shot and ended up in a coma. "Or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Or information and intimidation on election officials. Or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor. Or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump. There's no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence, ever. Period. No exceptions."

Biden said "we cannot allow this violence to be normalized." He did not mention the numerous elected officials from his own party who have called for violence against Republicans and against of GOP-led causes and efforts. He complained about the "political rhetoric" in this country, which he said has "gotten very heated." Only a week ago, Biden told top Dem donors that it was time to put the "bullseye" on Donald Trump.

"It's time to cool it down," Biden said. "We all have a responsibility to do that." He went on to say that we all have disagreements, and the stakes are high in this election, but that the place to solve those problems is the "battle box."

"In America, we resolve our differences at the battle box. Y'know, that's how we do it, at the battle box, not with bullets. The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people," he said, "not in the hands of a would-be assassin." He called for a peaceful resolution to the election.

"Tonight," he said, as he continued reading from the teleprompter, "I'm asking every American to recommit. To make America so, to make America, what it—think about it." He seemed to be trying to avoid saying Make America Great Again, the rallying cry of the Trump campaign and the raison d'etre of the MAGA movement.

"What's made America so special? Here is America everyone must be treated with dignity and respect and hate must have no safe harbor. Here in America we need to get out of our silos where we only listen to those with whom we agree. Where misinformation is rampant. Where foreign actors," Biden said, leaning into the concept of what Trump would call "Russia Russia Russia, "fuel the flames of our division to shape the outcomes consistent with their interests not ours."

"Let's remember," he went on, "while here in American unity is the most elusive of goals right now, nothing is more important for us now than standing together. We can do this." Then he leaned into the Founding Fathers and the meaning of democracy.

"Look, let's never lose sights of who we are. Let's remember that we are the United States of America. There is nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together."