'STAND UNITED'
Defiant Trump says ‘we will fear NOT & remain resilient’ after assassination bid as he says ‘God alone’ saved his life
Dramatic footage showed crowds cheering at the rally as Trump pumped his fist in the air
DONALD Trump has sent a defiant message to his supporters claiming God saved his life after an attempted assassination bid.
The former President was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, quickly standing up and punching the air as blood ran down his face.
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He mouthed the words "Fight, Fight, Fight!" as Secret Service agents dragged him to safety and the crowd chanted with him.
Now in his second message to a loyal fan base after the shooting, Trump has vowed to "remain resilient" and "FEAR NOT... in the face of wickedness".
Trump also reaffirmed his plans to speak at the Republican conference in Wisconsin next week in the statement posted to TruthSocial.
The statement read like a rallying cry to his supporters to stand united "as Americans", as he claimed to have been saved by God.
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"Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening," Trump wrote.
"We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness."
He went on to say that "our love" goes out to the other victims and families impacted by the jaw-dropping shooting that left one audience member dead and two critically injured.
"We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed," the former president said in his Sunday statement.
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"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.
"I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin."
The Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin starting Monday.
It is scheduled to last until Thursday.
During the convention, the Republican Party is set to select the party's nominees for president and vice president for the November election.
Trump is expected to scoop up the nomination with ease.
Sunday's post to TruthSocial is the second statement the former president has made following the shooting.
At around 8:42 pm on Saturday night, he confirmed in a post that he was struck in the ear by a bullet, which left blood pouring down the side of his face.
"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," he described.
"Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
SHOCKING SHOOTING
Just minutes after Trump began to speak in Butler, gunfire erupted at the open air campaign event.
Video shows the dramatic moment where gunshots can be heard coming from a nearby building as Trump grimaces and grabs his ear before falling to the ground.
Several Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and formed a human shield around Trump.
They continued to create a barrier around the former president has he stood up and defiantly raised his fist to the crowd.
Trump could be seeing mouthing the word "Fight" as he was escorted off the stage.
SHOOTER NAMED
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was identified as the shooter after being “neutralized” by Secret Service snipers.
Crooks is said to have been positioned on top of a manufacturing plant roughly 200 feet outside the cordoned-off rally zone.
He was shot dead by snipers who returned gunfire from the roof of another nearby building just moments after the shooting began.
Officials have confirmed the shooting was an assassination attempt on Trump.
What we know so far:
- A shooter opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, killing one, critically injuring two others, and wounding the former President
- Dramatic footage showed the moment Trump dived behind his podium as Secret Service agents closed in
- The FBI confirmed it was an assassination attempt, but said there was no prior threat
- Trump broke his silence with a statement describing the shooting - after a bullet struck his ear and left blood pouring down the side of his face
- A hot microphone captured the moment Secret Service agents screamed "Get down!"
- The shooter - identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks - was shot dead by Secret Service agents at the scene
- A witness claims he warned police about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before the attack
- President Joe Biden dubbed the shooting "sick," and has suspended campaigning for the next two days
A motive behind the shocking shooting has not yet been released.
His father, Matthew Crooks, has spoken out, telling CNN that he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on.”
He declined to comment further on his son until he can “wait until I talk to law enforcement.”
As an investigation continues, state and federal records provide some insight into Crooks’ political standing.
Crooks, from Bethel, Pennsylvania, was registered as a Republican in the state and last voted in November, 2022.
Donald Trump Rally Shooting Timeline
Donald Trump was shot at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
1pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5pm.
4:11pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:30pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
6:03pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:11pm: Gunshots were fired as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe.
7:24pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials.
8:42pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured.
This year's election was set to be the first presidential election Crooks would have been able to cast a vote in.
A 2021 Federal Election Commission filing obtained by Reuters also revealed that Crooks made a $15 donation to ActBlue when he was 17.
The donation was made on January 20, 2021, the same day President Joe Biden was inaugurated to office.
Crooks' donation was reportedly designated for the Progressive Turnout Project, which works to encourage Democrats to vote.
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Crooks did not have any ID on him at the time of the shooting and was identified through his DNA.
An AR-15 was reportedly recovered near his body on the roof.
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