Donald Trump rally shooting updates — Video shows RNC security as former president to speak after assassination attempt
SECURITY is ramped up at the Republican National Convention (RNC) as Donald Trump is set to give his first public speech this week after a gunman attempted to assassinate him at his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Footage of the RNC in Milwaukee shows miles of barricades, steel fencing, and armed cops and checkpoints for the event, which saw Trump announced as the Republican Party's nominee Monday.
Trump's pick for vice president was also revealed to be Senator JD Vance - a decision with added weight as the running mate will step up in case of an emergency like the one that was prevented this weekend.
Gunman Thomas Crooks, 20, fired at least eight shots toward the stage, killing a spectator and wounding Trump and two others in an attempt to assassinate the former president.
Trump suffered an injury to his ear and was seen bloodied as he was rushed off stage but is now doing well and in Milwaukee for the RNC.
While it's unclear if Trump will take the stage more than once, he's expected to speak Thursday on the last day of the convention.
Follow our Donald Trump rally shooting blog for news and updates...
'I continue to speak out strongly for our democracy'
"I continue to speak out strongly for our democracy, standard for our Constitution and the rule of law to call for action at the ballot box," Biden said.
"No violence on our streets that's how democracy should work we debate and disagree.
"The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people not in the hands of would-be assassin."
More from Biden's address
"No matter how strong our convictions must never descend into violence, Biden said.
"The Republican Convention will start tomorrow I've no doubt they'll criticize my record and offer their own vision for this country.
"I'll be traveling this week making the case for our record and my vision."
'Nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together'
"Here in America standing together is important, we can do this," Biden said.
Biden continues to highlight the importance of American democracy and what it means.
"We are the United States of America, there is nothing, nothing nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together."
Biden's address continues
"There's no place in America for this kind of violence in America, period," Biden said.
Biden again sends condolences to the fallen victim Corey Comperatore who was killed at the rally shooting.
"We must stand together"
Biden is addressing the nation right now.
"We must stand together," Biden said.
"We do not know the motive of the shooter."
"Law enforcement professionals are investigating as I speak," Biden continued.
President Biden set to address the nation
President Joe Biden is set to speak to the nation for the second time today.
Biden spoke in the Roosevelt Room earlier and sent prayers to Trump and his family.
“Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers,” Biden said.
He also paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, former fire chief for Buffalo Township, who was identified as the victim who died while protecting his daughter from bullets.
Follow our live blog for all the latest from President Biden's press conference.
Trump arrives in Milwaukee
Former President Donald Trump has arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention after being shot in the ear at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Saturday evening.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on Trump Force One in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.Credit: Reuters Learn more about rally shooting victim Corey Comperatore
Trump rally victim named as former fire chief Corey Comperatore as family say he died shielding daughter from bulletsOfficer made eye contact with the shooter
"One officer did make eye contact with him" [Thomas Matthew Crooks], Mike said.
"Seeing the gun and hearing the shots you sort of just freeze in that second," Amber said.
"She went running for law enforcement to show them where he [Thomas Matthew Crooks] was at," Mike continued.
'Real hectic, real fast'
"My wife ran up to law enforcement and tried to tell him where he was," Mike said.
"They couldn't seem to see him because they weren't in the right spot it got real hectic real fast."
Bystander who caught footage of the shooting speaks out
CNN's Erin Burnett is joined by Mike Difrischia and his wife Amber to speak about when he captured the shooting.
"It was a minute or so a minute before my wife nudged me and told me what was going on," Mike said.
"I didn't think nothing of it for a few seconds and then a guy behind me seen him and said he had a gun.
Trump calls for America to Unite
At 2:11 pm today Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to urge America to unite.
"UNITE AMERICA!" Trump wrote.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro praises victim
Corey Comperatore, a retired fire chief was killed during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
PA Governor Josh Shapiro said Comperatore died a hero as he shielded his family from bullets during the shooting at former president Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania yesterday.
"Corey went to church every Sunday for a loved his community," Shapiro said.
"And most especially Corey loves his family.
"Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community.
"I asked Corey's wife if it would be okay for me to share that we spoke. She said yes. She also asked that I share with all of you that Corey died a hero."
World leaders comment on rally tragedy
Multiple leaders from around the world have broken their silence after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last night.
“My thoughts and prayers are with President Donald Trump in these dark hours,” Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban wrote on social media.
"I am following with apprehension the updates from Pennsylvania, where the 45th President of the United States Donald Trump was shot during a rally,” Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni wrote.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a short statement: “China is concerned about the shooting of former President Trump.
"President Xi Jinping has conveyed his sympathies to former President Trump.”
Officials patrol downtown Wisconsin
Police patrol the exterior of Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ahead of the Republican National Convention.
This comes after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Saturday evening.
State police from New Jersey patrol the exterior of the Fiserv Forum, which will host the Republican National Convention (RNC), in the wake of the assassination attempt of former President TrumpCredit: EPA 
Corrections officers from North Dakota patrol the exterior of the Fiserv Forum, which will host the Republican National Convention (RNC)Credit: EPA
President Biden cancels upcoming trip
President Joe Biden has canceled his trip to Texas.
Biden was set to arrive on Monday to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act during a visit to the LBJ Presidential Library.
NBC News was going to interview with Biden.
There has been no word on if the trip will be rescheduled at this time.
More from the Secret Service address
The Secret Service addressed the nation earlier today following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During the address, they said they are not anticipating any changes to its security plan even in the wake of Saturday’s shooting.
The Secret Service remains “confident” in its security plan.
But officials continued to brush off questions on why the agency hasn’t taken press questions on what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump Butler Rally Shooting Latest
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet while speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
Donald Trump was not critically injured and is expected to make a full recovery. He has since made his first public appearance after the shooting.
- July 13: Trump was grazed by a bullet from an AR-15-style rifle 430 feet away from where he was delivering remarks to supporters in Butler.
- Trump shared that the bullet tore a piece of his right ear.
- The shooting left rally-goer Corey Comperatore dead and two others injured.
- The FBI identified the would-be assassin as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
- Crooks was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
- July 14: President Joe Biden urged for a cooldown in politics following the attempt on his predecessor's life.
- Biden launched an independent review into the rally's shooting and to assess what went wrong.
- July 15: GOP delegates gather at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to formally name Donald Trump as the party's presidential nominee.
- In a Truth Social post, Trump announced Ohio senator JD Vance as his vice president pick.
- Trump makes his first public appearance since the attempt on his life during the Republican National Convention.
- The Republican presidential candidate, 78, walks into the Fiserv Forum visibly emotional with a white bandage on his right ear.
Blackrock pulls ad
Crooks appeared in a video ad for BlackRock that was filmed at his high school.
In the brief clip, the gunman sat at a table in a classroom with other students.
On Sunday, Blackrock removed any future airing of the company commercial, per a tweet on X.
Crooks was a high school student at the time the ad was made.
GoFundMe raises millions for families
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Donald Trump campaign's national finance director Meredith O'Rourke.
The page intends to help the families of those killed or wounded in the shooting that took place yesterday evening at the former president's rally in Butler, PA.
"President Donald Trump has authorized this account as a place for donations to the supporters and families wounded or killed in today’s brutal and horrific assassination attempt," the page read.
'"ll donations will be directed to these proud Americans as they grieve and recover. May God bless and unite our nation," the page continued.
The GoFundMe raised $1,774,293 over the original $1,000,000 goal as of 3:30 pm ET.
Trump is not delaying trip to Wisconsin
Former President Donald Trump has revealed he is not delaying his trip to Wisconsin after being shot in the ear at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania yesterday.
"Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a “shooter,” or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.
"Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled, at 3:30 P.M. TODAY. Thank you! DJT," the former President wrote on Truth Social.
More from Biden's address
"He was a father, protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired. He lost his life. God love him," he continued, adding that he is praying for the full recovery of the two others injured.
The president went on to call on the American people to unite, saying there is no place for such violence in the country.
"An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation, everything," Biden said.
"It's not who we are as a nation. It's not American and we cannot allow this to happen.
"Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now.
"We will debate and will disagree, that's not going to change. But we're not going to lose sight in fact who we are as Americans."
Victims names released
The Pennsylvania State Police have released the names of the three attendees shot during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
The deceased victim was identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, PA.
The second victim has been identified as 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, PA, who is currently listed in stable condition.
The third victim was identified as 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, PA. He is also listed in stable condition.
President Biden addresses the nation
President Joe Biden has addressed the United States once again one day after former president Donald Trump was targeted in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally.
On Saturday evening, the former president sustained an injury to his ear after gunfire broke out at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one person died and two others were critically injured.
Biden addressed the nation in brief remarks on Sunday and said that he spoke with Trump in the hours after the shooting.
"Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers," Biden said from the Roosevelt Room.
The president paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief for Buffalo Township, who was identified as the victim who died while protecting his daughter from bullets.
"We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed," Biden said.
Kamala Harris postpones trip to Florida
Vice President Kamala Harris has postponed her trip to Florida in response to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Harris was due to head to Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday to discuss Trump’s stance on women’s reproductive rights with Republican women.
The vice president denounced the “senseless” shooting of Donald Trump on Saturday night and expressed her relief that the former president was not seriously injured.