‘Truth, courage, resilience’: Biden hails Salman Rushdie after attack

President says author stands for essential, universal ideals' and the ability to share ideas without fear'

A day after Salman Rushdie's stabbing in western New York, Joe Biden on Saturday issued a statement hailing the author as standing for essential, universal ideals".

Truth. Courage. Resilience. The ability to share ideas without fear," the president's statement added about Rushdie, who spent years in hiding after a former leader of Iran put out a call for the writer's death over one of his novels. These are the building blocks of any free and open society. And today, we reaffirm our commitment to those deeply American values in solidarity with Rushdie and all those who stand for freedom of expression."