Former President Donald Trump was targeted in an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, just days before the Republican National Convention. The shooting resulted in the death of the shooter and one attendee and two spectators were injured.
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Donald Trump described hearing a whizzing sound followed by shots and immediately felt the bullet piercing his ear.
He experienced bleeding and was quickly surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents. Despite the injury, Trump remained defiant raising his fist to the crowd as he was escorted off the stage.
The Secret Service quickly responded surrounding Trump and neutralizing the shooter. The shooter was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks who fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the rally venue. One spectator was killed and two others were injured in the attack.
Donald Trump confirmed the shooting on his Truth Social site expressing gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement.
He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and injured individuals. Donald Trump addressed the shock and disbelief that such an act could occur in the United States.
Donald Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung stated that Trump was fine and being checked out at a local medical facility. Trump was later seen walking off his plane.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence. Vice-President Kamala Harris and other political leaders called for an end to violence in politics.
International leaders including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi, Keir Starmer and Fumio Kishida condemned the attack and expressed support for Donald Trump.
The FBI is investigating the incident, but no motive for the attack has been identified yet. The Department of Homeland Security is also involved in the investigation.
The United Nations and various world leaders condemned the assassination attempt stressing the importance of democratic processes and the rejection of violence.
Leaders from Canada, Israel, Hungary and other nations expressed their shock and support for Donald Trump’s recovery.
Individuals such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Ivanka Trump expressed their support and relief that Donald Trump was not seriously harmed.
The shooter, a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania was not an attendee at the rally but fired from an elevated position outside the venue.
Law enforcement officials engaged and killed the shooter, who was found with an AR-style rifle. The FBI has yet to release the identity and motive of the shooter but confirmed the attack as an assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
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The Secret Service’s counterassault team tasked with confronting active threats, neutralized the shooter.
Witnesses described panic as the shots were fired with many attendees taking cover. Videos and photos from the scene show Trump being escorted off stage with blood on his face.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence calling it “sick” and addressed that there is no place for such actions in America.
Biden spoke to Donald Trump following the incident and returned to Washington early from his weekend trip.
Donald Trump’s campaign confirmed his attendance at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee despite the attack.
The shooter managed to get close to the stage. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured that measures are being taken to ensure the safety of political candidates.
The attack has prompted a review of security protocols especially with the convention and the presidential election approaching.
World leaders expressed outrage and condemned the attack. Domestic political figures including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton also condemned the violence advocating for peaceful political discourse.
Donald Trump was discussing border crossing numbers when the shooting began. Secret Service agents quickly surrounded Trump following their training protocol to protect him.
After the situation was contained, Trump was seen addressing his supporters briefly before being evacuated.
The incident is the most serious attempt on a U.S. president or candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
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