An apparent attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life left one spectator and a suspected sniper dead after gunfire erupted during a political rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, forcing his Secret Service detail to rush the stage and evacuate him from the venue.
Trump, whose ear was bloodied from what he later said was a gunshot, was otherwise unhurt, his campaign.
The former president was discussing border crossing numbers when a flurry of pops was heard, prompting screams of terror and desperate efforts to take cover among those in the crowd. Trump was just six minutes into his address when he suddenly stopped speaking and reached for the side of his face, video shows.
He then quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail raced to the podium, shouting “Get down, get down!” The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage. Some of the panic dissolved as 78-year-old Trump, his face streaked with blood, was helped to his feet and thrust his fist in the air, eliciting cheers and chants of “USA!” from the crowd, before he was rushed to a waiting vehicle.
The incident, which left another two people critically wounded, is being investigated as an assassination attempt, law enforcement officials said. No one involved, including the spectator who was killed, has been identified.
Shortly after the attack, Trump took to his own online platform, Truth Social, to say he was struck by a bullet in the “upper part of my right ear.” He also thanked United States Secret Service and local authorities for their response.
“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,” he wrote. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.”
The former president added he “knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”
According to a statement from the Secret Service, the shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue, secret service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.” They reportedly recovered an AR-15 style rifle at scene but did not provide any information about the suspect.
Trump in his Truth Social post said “nothing is known at this time about the shooter.”
He concluded: “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Trump’s campaign issued a statement shortly after the chaos saying the former president was “fine” and being taken care of at a local hospital.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., told reporters he spoke with his father and that “he is in great spirits.” He also shared an image of Trump pumping his fist in the air on X, writing, “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”
His daughter, Ivanka Trump, also took to X to address the incident, dubbing the violence “senseless” while expressing her admiration for her father.
“I continue to pray for our country,” she wrote. “I love you Dad, today and always.”
The incident marked the first attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It comes just four months before the presidential election and days before Trump is slated to officially be named the Republican nominee at his party’s convention in Milwaukee. Officials said the event will continue as planned, and Trump added he was “looking forward” to attending.
President Biden called the attack “sick” during a press conference held Saturday night.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening.
“Everybody must condemn it,” he added.
The president told reporters he has not yet spoken with Trump but hopes to do so before the night’s end. He was one of many to condemn the rally violence.
“Karen and I are praying for President Trump and urge every American to join us,” former vice president Mike Pence said via the social platform X.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also posted on X that he was praying for Trump.
“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. “I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed on the situation and condemned the incident, saying that “violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable.”
With News Wire Services
