Former President Donald Trump was shot during his rally in Butler, Pa., according to multiple news outlets and live TV footage. The shooting left one rally attendee and the suspected shooter dead, as well as two rally attendees critically wounded, according to the New York Times.
Minutes into a political campaign rally for Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, shots rang out and Trump, “felt the bullet ripping through the skin ,” he said in a post on the social media platform Truth Social. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
The bullet pierced Trump’s right ear, and in photographs he was seen with blood on his face. Secret Service agents swarmed Trump and escorted him to safety. Rally goers screamed and ducked as chaos ensued. The Secret Service has released a statement saying the former president is safe and that the shooting is now an active investigation.
The suspected shooter was killed by the Secret Service. Trump and the injured were rushed to a hospital.
President Joe Biden delivered a nationally televised statement following the Pennsylvania rally shooting.
“’I’m grateful to hear that safe and doing well,” Biden said. “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally.”
Current and former politicians are extending condolences and prayers to the Trump family and those of the rally goers as well as condemning the political violence.
“Tonight, we watched in horror as an assassination attempt was made on President Trump. This attack has tragically claimed the life of an innocent American, and was centimeters away from taking the life of the 45th President,” Kansas senator Roger Marshall said on X. “We are praying for President Trump, all of those injured, and the innocent attendee who was killed and their family. Thank you to our law enforcement officers and the secret service agents who eliminated the attacker with swift justice.”
“I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker said over the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Violence has no place in America, especially in our political process,” former president Bill Clinton said on X. “Hillary and I are thankful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those affected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the swift action of the U.S. Secret Service.”
Many Americans are astounded that such violence occurred at an otherwise peaceful political rally.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said in his statement. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this.”
Biden declined to comment whether he believed that the shots fired at Trump were an attempt on his life. However, the rally is being investigated as an assaination attempt according to law enforcement officials.
