U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota

Like most Americans, I was shocked and angered by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at an otherwise peaceful event in Pennsylvania. I am relieved that he was not seriously harmed and grateful for the actions of law enforcement personnel and other first responders. President Trump remains in my prayers, along with all of the innocent bystanders — the deceased and injured and their families.

This is a shocking moment for our country, and a sense of worry is understandably lingering for many Americans. At this stage, there is still a lot we don’t know, and there will be a thorough investigation by the U.S. Congress as well as by the relevant federal agencies to determine what happened — most importantly how a gunman was able to get so dangerously close to President Trump. The American people deserve answers, and there needs to be accountability. The director of the Secret Service should resign immediately, and law enforcement must make improvements now to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.

Times of tragedy often demonstrate the worst of which human beings are capable. But they also often give us a glimpse of America at its very best. And that was certainly true in Pennsylvania. We’ve seen videos and heard stories of the heroism of law enforcement and everyday rally-goers amid chaos. Many of us know about Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who was shot and killed while bravely shielding his family from gunfire. There is also the emergency room doctor who quickly sprang into action to provide CPR to a man who had been shot, the firefighters from Ohio who helped attendees who appeared to be hurt, and there are certainly other unknown instances of courage from that day. In the midst of tragedy and chaos, it is inspiring to see how the good in our country shines through.

Soon after surviving the attempt on his life, President Trump said, “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our true character as Americans.” He’s right. That doesn’t mean, of course, that our disagreements suddenly disappear, but it does mean that we recognize and remember that most Americans, regardless of where they land on the political spectrum, want what’s best for our country’s future. And I hope that one good thing that comes out of this tragedy is a renewed sense of what unites us, a renewed respect for our fellow Americans, and a renewed resolve to work toward the “more perfect Union” that our founders envisioned.