In a shocking and unprecedented event, former US president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred around 6:15 pm on Saturday when a shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
The US Secret Service swiftly responded, neutralizing the shooter, who was subsequently shot dead. Trump, aged 78, was immediately escorted to safety and later reported to be unharmed, undergoing medical checks at a local facility. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility,” said Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all expressed their abhorrence at the act of violence. President Biden stated, “There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
The incident unfolded dramatically, with eyewitnesses describing seeing a man with a rifle on a nearby rooftop. An eyewitness named Greg recounted, “We noticed the guy crawling up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us. He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle. Next thing you know, five shots ring out.”
As Trump was being escorted out by the Secret Service, blood was seen on his face and ear, though he appeared to be relatively unscathed. The crowd at the rally was reportedly cheering as he was led to safety.
In addition to the shooter, one spectator was killed, and two others were critically injured in the attack. The Secret Service has notified the FBI, and an active investigation is ongoing.
Vice President Kamala Harris expressed relief that Trump was not seriously injured, saying, “Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the attack, stating, “Political violence has no place in our country.” Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that such violence should never be normalized.
Tesla CEO and social media platform X owner Elon Musk declared his support for Trump, saying, “Fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.” Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy, a close confidant of Trump, also expressed his support, urging people to “Pray for Trump.”
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this alarming event, the Secret Service continues its investigation, and further details are expected to emerge.