Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
An attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life left one person 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 was discussing border crossing numbers at the rally in Butler when a flurry of pops was heard, prompting screams of terror and desperate efforts to take cover among those in the crowd. The former president was just six minutes into his address when he suddenly stopped speaking and reached for the side of his face, video shows.
Trump then quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail raced to the podium, shouting “Get down, get down!” The pops continued as agents tended to him on stage. Some of the panic dissolved as 78-year-old Trump, his face newly streaked with blood, was helped to his feet and he thrust his fist in the air, eliciting cheers and chants of “USA!” from the crowds, before he was rushed to a waiting vehicle while surrounded by Secret Service agents.
Police began vacating the fairgrounds not long after Trump left the stage.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening,” he concluded. “GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Trump’s campaign also 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.
“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility,” Cheung continued. “More details will follow.”
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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.”
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.
President Biden called the attack “sick” during a press conference.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick,” 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,” Biden added.
Biden 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.
With News Wire Services
