LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, denounced the July 13 assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. 

“It brought back, for me, an experience that hit way too close to home,” Greenberg said.

The shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a Trump-campaign stop killed one rally-goer, injured two others and nearly took the former president’s life.

A suspect was shot and killed, positioned on a roof outside of the rally’s fenced-in perimeter but within sight of the rally stage and president.

“There is no place for violence in politics, period," Greenberg said. "And really, there is no place for violence anywhere in America. This is not the America anyone wants." 

The attempt on Trump’s life over the weekend now links him with Louisville’s mayor. While Greenberg was running for mayor in Feb. 2022, a gunman opened fire on the candidate and several staff members at Greenberg’s campaign office in Louisville. No one was injured, but a bullet did graze Greenberg’s sweater.

Greenberg said his brush with death still affects and informs him. 

“We can’t allow political violence to become the norm, and we can’t think that this won’t happen again if we don’t all change just a little bit," he said.

Like other political leaders across the U.S., following the incident, Greenberg said the country, its people and political parties need to deescalate its political rhetoric. He added he is recommitting himself to listening and understanding different opinions and urged others to do the same. 

“Start engaging and have real dialogue about the issues, even when we vehemently disagree, because I truly believe that deep down, we all do want the same goals," Greenberg said.