Melania Trump calls for country to 'reunite' following near-assassination

Former first lady Melania Trump has released a statement following the assassination attempt on her husband, former President Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, blasting the shooter as a "monster" and calling for the country to "reunite."

She said the gunman was "a monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine" who attempted to "ring out Donald's passion — his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration."

She said she looked on in horror as the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, allegedly tried to take out her husband during the event. 

"When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change," Trump wrote, adding that her husband is a generous and caring man.

SHOOTING AT TRUMP RALLY BEING INVESTIGATED AS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

She paid tribute to Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials who "risked their own lives" to protect her husband, and honored the victims, including one person who was fatally struck. 

"To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me."

BIDEN SPOKE WITH TRUMP FOLLOWING SHOOTING AT PENNSYLVANIA RALLY

The former first lady has stayed off the campaign trail so far this year but is expected to attend the Republican National Convention this week. Barron Trump appeared at his father's rally in Doral, Florida, on Tuesday, where he stood for a sustained applause amid praise from his father.

Melania said in her statement that America is a unique nation and that courage and common sense must ascend and "bring us back together as one."

"I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans," she wrote.

"Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now."

She went on to say that the nation must "ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence."

"We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends."

"We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again."

"The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide - thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family."