Melania Trump is speaking first at this opioid event. "We cannot tolerate those cowardly attacks and I strongly condemn all who choose violence," she says after identifying Clinton, Obama, and other "public officials" as the targets.
Melania Trump encourages people to "choose kindness over hatred."
Yes, Melania Trump referred to "organizations" without naming them.
Donald Trump: "The safety of the American people is my highest and absolute priority." He says the devices were sent to current and former officials, not naming any. Says an investigation is underway. Calls them "despicable acts."
Trump: "In these times we have to unify, we have to come together." Says the country needs to send a message that "acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America."
Trump: "This egregious conduct is abhorrent" to everything "we hold dear." He promises more updates. He ad-libs, "We're extremely angry, upset, unhappy about what we witnessed this morning, and we will get to the bottom of it." Then on to previously scheduled opioid remarks.
We've repeatedly seen Trump read out a more-or-less-conventional statement in response to incidents or tragedies, then quickly reveal that his true thoughts and preferred tone are much different. We'll see with this one.
