Elon Musk praises ‘tough’ Donald Trump after former president is shot at rally
Elon Musk fully endorsed Donald Trump just moments after the former president was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” he said on X.
In a subsequent post, Musk wrote, “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.”
Musk, who reportedly donated a “sizable amount” to a pro-Trump super PAC recently, also shared a photo of Trump being escorted off stage after several shots rang out from the crowd. The image shows the former president with blood on his face while holding his fist in the air.
The incident took place during a campaign rally, in the midst of Trump’s speech, on Saturday. Following the attack on Trump, 78, nine shots rang out and the former president ducked for cover.
After Secret Service agents quickly surrounded him, Trump was rushed off stage.
The Secret Service has said that Trump is safe, and a campaign spokesperson said he is fine. He’s also being checked out at a local medical facility, according to The New York Post.
Police sources also said that the shooter had been “neutralized” by the Secret Services’ counter assault team.
Richard Goldinger, the District Attorney of Butler County — where the rally took place — further revealed that an audience member also died, according to ABC News.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said that he had been briefed on the situation and that police remained on the scene and are “working with our federal and local partners.”
“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” Shapiro said in the statement.
“Lori and I are praying for President Trump, the Secret Service officers who protected him, those attending the event, and all of the first responders still on the scene.”
President Joe Biden also said he had been briefed on the incident.
“I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” he shared on Facebook.
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Later in the evening, Trump released his own statement, saying he “felt the bullet ripping through [his] skin” during the assassination attempt.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” he said on his Truth Social page. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized ten what was happening.”
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump wrote. “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.”
