Later on Monday, Biden declined to say whether stricter gun laws would have prevented the deadly shooting when pressed by CNN’s MJ Lee. “We don’t know the circumstances yet,” he said.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s in California for the holiday, touted the recently signed legislation in her own statement, but added, “Today’s shooting is an unmistakable reminder that more should be done to address gun violence in our country.”
Biden held a brief moment of silence at the White House Monday evening during a July Fourth picnic, noting that he’d spoken to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.
In remarks commemorating the holiday with military families at the White House earlier in the afternoon, the President made reference to the new gun safety law and the Illinois shooting, saying, “You all heard what happened today. … Each day we’re reminded there’s nothing guaranteed about our democracy, nothing guaranteed about our way of life.”
Biden called on Americans to fight for democracy, while also broadly acknowledging national challenges.
“Our economy is growing, but not without pain. Liberty is under assault — assault both here and abroad,” he said, alluding to the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last month.
“In recent days, there’s been reason to think that this country is moving backwards. That freedom has been reduced. That rights we assumed are no longer — a reminder that we remain in an ongoing battle for the soul of America, as we have for over 200 years.”
Still, Biden attempted to reassure Americans, saying, “I know it can be exhausting and unsettling, but tonight I want you to know we’re going to get through all this.”
America, he emphasized, is and always will be a “work in progress.”
“It has so often been the case that after we’ve taken giant steps forward, we’ve taken a few steps backwards. And after doing the hard work of laying the foundation for a better future, the worst of our past has reached out and pulled us back on occasion. But I know this: From the deepest depths of our worst crises, we’ve always risen to our higher heights,” Biden told the crowd on the South Lawn. “We’ve always come out better than we went in.”
Earlier in the day, Biden had released a forward-looking statement about how the “best days still lie ahead.”
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Shawna Mizelle and Ariel Edwards-Levy contributed to this report.
