United States President Donald Trump had a close shave on Saturday when a young gunman opened fire at him that missed the target and hit him on the right ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the former US president survived this assassination attempt. This comes only days before Trump was to accept the nomination by the Republican Party for the next presidential election in November.
The 78-year-old Trump was addressing a large outdoor rally in Butler town when gunfire erupted. Video footage showed him clutching his ear as the shots rang out. The crowd erupted in panic, with someone shouting, “Get down, get down!” as Secret Service agents shielded Trump. The shooting caused immediate chaos, with attendees scrambling to the exits.
Despite blood pouring from his ear, Trump managed to raise his fist and urged the crowd to “fight” before being quickly escorted off stage and taken to a nearby hospital in Pittsburgh.
Amid the confusion, Trump refused to leave without his shoes and insisted that he had to put them on before he could be taken to safety. An attack killed one of the spectators and critically injured two others. The gunman was shot dead by a Secret Service agent and according to US media was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park. His identity has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
The attempted assassination occurred just two days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the party’s candidate for the November 5 election.
FBI special agent Kevin Rojek expressed surprise at the gunman's ability to fire multiple shots, calling it an assassination attempt. He mentioned that the FBI is close to confirming the shooter's identity but refrained from releasing it at this time. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities examining the security measures in place, the weapon used, and how the gunman accessed the rally.
The FBI deployed bomb-clearing assets to the scene as a precaution due to the presence of a suspicious package near the shooter. The investigation remains active, with efforts focused on confirming the gunman's identity and understanding the attack's details.
Law enforcement officials revealed that the shooter fired from an elevated position with an AR-style rifle. Trump’s campaign thanked law enforcement and first responders for their swift actions and assured supporters that Trump looks forward to the Republican National Convention.
A White House official reported that US President Joe Biden spoke with his November election opponent, Donald Trump. The details of their conversation were not disclosed. Additionally, Biden communicated with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy. Originally planning to spend the weekend in Delaware, Biden altered his schedule to return to the White House.
Earlier, Biden emphasized that "everybody must condemn" the suspected assassination attempt on Trump. In a national address approximately two hours after the incident, Biden stated, "We cannot allow this to be happening. The idea that there's violence in America like this is just unheard of."
Vice President Kamala Harris, along with former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, denounced the attack on Trump. Harris expressed relief that Trump was not seriously injured and conveyed her thoughts for him, his family, and all those affected by the shooting. "Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence," she added.
Ivanka Trump, Trump's daughter, also released a statement on X, thanking supporters for their love and prayers for her father and other victims of the attack in Butler, Pennsylvania. She expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement for their prompt actions and continued to pray for the country. "I love you Dad, today and always," she said.
Leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties have strongly condemned the attack on Trump.
Read Also | Trump Pledges to End Outsourcing if Re-elected
Read Also | Increasing Calls for Biden to Withdraw, But He Vows to Stay and Defeat Trump
