Former President Donald Trump was rushed off stage with blood on his face Saturday after a gunman opened fire on a campaign rally in Butler, Pa.
The suspected shooter “filed multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service’s top spokesman, wrote in a post on X. “US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured.”
Trump said in a social media post that “it is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.”
Trump thanked his security detail and all in law enforcement, and offered his condolences to the attendee who was killed.
“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 added. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The former president was about 10 minutes into a rally in the commonwealth when loud pops could be heard at about 6:11 p.m. Trump reached for his neck and then dropped down as he was swarmed by Secret Service agents. People in the crowd could be heard screaming.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned what some called an “assassination” attempt, condemning political violence in statements and social media posts.
“We cannot condone this,” President Joe Biden said in remarks from a Rehoboth Beach, Del., police station, adding he intended to speak to Trump later Saturday. He said “every agency” of federal law enforcement would be involved in a thorough investigation.
“The bottom line is … the idea that there’s political violence in America like this is just unheard of. It’s not appropriate. Everybody must condemn it,” Biden said.
Asked if he believes it was an assassination attempt, the president said he has “an opinion” but would hold off on commenting until more facts have been gathered by law enforcement.
Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger told The Associated Press the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed. The AP also reported, citing two law enforcement sources, that the shooting was being investigated as an assassination attempt.
Five days before he was slated to accept the GOP nomination for a second term in Milwaukee, Trump remained on the stage for several moments. Agents got him to his feet and he pumped a fist toward the crowd.
Trump appeared to say, “fight” several times as his security detail removed him from the stage. He also could be heard telling agents, “Let me get my shoes” after they helped him to his feet.
What appeared to be Secret Service agents could be heard at one point saying “shooter down.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement he was “horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country.”
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the shooting a “horrific act of political violence” that he said in a statement “has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned.”
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., sent his thoughts to Trump via a post on social media platform X. “Please join me in praying for President Donald J. Trump and the safety of those at the Trump rally,” he wrote.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said to be on Trump’s running mate shortlist, wrote on X: “Praying for President Trump and all those attending the rally in Pennsylvania today.
But Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., sought to lay the blame for the shooting at Biden’s feet. In a series of posts on X, he cited a quote Biden gave earlier this week about it being time to “put Trump in the bullseye” and then accused the Democrat of ordering the shooting.
“The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, PA, should immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination,” Collins posted.
The post Trump rushed from stage after gunshots fired at rally appeared first on Roll Call.
