Liz Truss has branded Joe Biden a “weak president” as she attended the Republican National Convention in support of Donald Trump.

Speaking to Sky News’ James Matthews in Milwaukee, the former British prime minister criticised the current US president for his “rhetoric” around Mr Trump, who survived an assassination attempt at the weekend.

But unlike some right-wing politicians and commentators, she said she was “not prepared to draw the line” between Mr Biden’s language and the motivation of the gunman.

Follow the latest from the Trump nomination

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Mr Trump suffered minor injuries in the shooting at one of his rallies on Saturday, but an audience member was killed and two others remain in a critical condition in hospital.

Ms Truss said it was “absolutely appalling” and the presidential candidate was “just incredibly lucky, frankly, not to be killed”.

She said there “seems to have been a failure to properly protect” Mr Trump, as she called for a “full investigation into what happened”.

Who is JD Vance? The ‘never Trumper’ who is now Republican vice-president pick

US election: Donald Trump becomes the official Republican presidential nominee

Trump media firm – behind Truth Social – takes off as markets react to shooting

And she said it “makes everybody who is involved in politics fear what could happen”.

But Ms Truss said the man hoping to return to the White House after November’s US election “showed his strength and fortitude”.

She added it was “reminiscent” of another ex-prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, who still gave her party conference speech after the IRA bombed her hotel in Brighton in 1984.

Asked whether Mr Biden held any portion of blame over the attempt on Mr Trump’s life, the former Conservative MP – who lost her seat at the last general election – said: “I do not support Joe Biden.

“I think he has been a weak president of the United States and I want Donald Trump to win.

“But clearly it is the responsibility of the putative assassin and the security services what’s happened.”

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

She went on: “I don’t like the rhetoric [from Mr Biden]… but I am not prepared to draw the line between one and the other.”

Related posts:

Over-45s now able to book COVID jabs after latest target met PM set to reshuffle cabinet – who could be in and out? David Davis telling PM to resign is ‘damaging’, health secretary admits Travel industry had months to prepare for half-term rush, minister says The three key priorities set out in Truss’s first speech as PM Sunak to launch asylum seeker crackdown with 20-day questionnaire Just 9% of Britons think Brexit more of a success than failure – poll Sir Keir Starmer fails to rule out tax burden rise under Labour Rwanda bill should stop 99.5% of migrant claims, minister says Migrants cross English Channel to UK for first time this year Israel has made ‘big mistakes’ in Gaza conflict, says Dowden Sadiq Khan secures convincing win over Tory rival in London mayoral race