They save the Oval Office address for serious times – conflict, typically.

On both counts – serious and conflict – a president’s prime-time appearance seemed appropriate.

This was a Joe Biden presentation on the gravity of the current situation, eyeballing an American audience on attritional politics.

Phrases like “political battlefield” and “killing field” offered an extreme warning, the choice of language deliberately stark and arresting.

Read more: Biden addresses the nation after Trump attack

It might have sounded like hyperbole, had Saturday’s events not rendered it real.

Biden’s call for unity represents a noble ambition but one that sets hope against expectation.

Assassination attempt on Trump is a wake-up call for UK MPs

‘Politics should never be a killing field’: Biden addresses the nation after Trump attack

Trump changes ‘humdinger’ of a speech after assassination attempt as he arrives in Milwaukee for Republican National Convention

Ideological differences drive a hostility and division that are entrenched in US politics and there has been enough early reaction to suggest Saturday hasn’t wholly changed that.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

There’s no doubt Americans are united in shock at what happened in Pennsylvania but there’s disunity around where blame lies.

Biden asks for the temperature to be lowered in politics. The question is how he squares that with an aggressive Democratic campaign that places Donald Trump front and centre, as an existential threat to democracy.

While he presents himself as consoler-in-chief offering leadership in a time of distress, he does so as an election candidate in a desperate race for the White House.

Read more:
Assassination attempt on Trump is a wake-up call for UK MPs
Trump gunman: ‘Outcast’ who wasn’t let on school rifle team

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

How does he square the two?

Ditch the campaign attack ads and prosecute the argument with polite suggestion?

As he negotiates a path forward, Biden has contradictions to calibrate – a key measure will be Trump’s response.

Trump has yet to speak publicly since he was hit by a would-be assassin’s bullet. Having travelled to the Republican National Convention, the stage is set for him to address the party faithful as they prepare to anoint him as their nominee.

Will Trump join Biden in calling for a more peaceful politics? It would deliver a strong message to the political trenches.

However, given their history, relationship and political tension between the two, it’s a lot to hope for.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

At a time of increased threats of political violence, and the actual execution of it, a joint effort to reduce the rhetoric would settle nerves among a public concerned at where politics have taken America and by where they might take it next.

Related posts:

Kourtney Kardashian appears to confirm romance with Blink-182’s Travis Barker Amazon apologises for tweet denying workers are forced to urinate in bottles One dead and thousands evacuated after ‘severe’ flooding in parts of Canada and US Alec Baldwin ‘played Russian roulette’ by failing to check gun before firing it on Rust film set, lawyer says Russia will ‘pay an even steeper price’: Biden announces US sanctions as it moves forces to protect NATO allies US and EU reach breakthrough in data protection dispute Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes jailed for over 11 years for multi-billion dollar blood-testing scam Facebook hit by election interference content ’10 years before Zuckerberg acknowledged it’ Mother hears late daughter’s transplanted heart beating Three people still missing as four die in chocolate factory explosion Sharks could be eating dumped cocaine and acting ‘crazy,’ scientists say Body of man missing since August found in mountains with his dog alive and by his side