Donald Trump Grazed, Shooter and Audience Member Killed at Pennsylvania Rally
Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump was shot at during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, with a bullet hitting his ear and causing visible injuries.
The Secret Service neutralized the shooter, who is now dead. One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured.
Trump had been addressing the crowd for around five minutes when shots rang out. He seemed to grab at his right ear before he was told to duck by Secret Service agents who jumped on top of him.
Following the shots, Trump appeared to have blood on his face as he held up his fist and mouthed “Fight” at the crowd several times while being led away by his Secret Service detail. The crowd broke into a “USA” chant.
“During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of investigation.”
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump said in his first statement after the incident, which he shared on Truth Social after being taken to be checked out by health professionals.
Shooting just happened at The Trump rally pic.twitter.com/Xs1dVL1H3T
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 13, 2024
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump said. “I 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.
BREAKING: Donald Trump pumps his fist as blood covers his face after ‘pops’ ring out. pic.twitter.com/XSLVR055bv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 13, 2024
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) July 13, 2024
CNN reported that pool reporters at the rally heard “a series of loud explosions or loud bangs,” followed by Secret Service agents rushing in to protect Trump. “The Secret Service went and immediately covered President Trump. Pool heard residual bangs afterward,” a press pool report read. “Agents grabbed Trump, who was seen waving his fists in the air.”
NBC’s Dasha Burns described the moment that shots rang out. “We were in the middle of all of this as this all transpired. We were getting off of the press riser, getting to the ground level where all of the attendees are on the grass here at this venue. We heard at first what I thought might have been fireworks. I even saw a little bit of smoke — wasn’t sure what was going on.”
“My producer Bianca and I then realized this might be something more serious. We then got ourselves behind a barricade for safety. Trying to make sure our colleagues and peers around us were safe. Everyone ducked down. As you see in that video, the former president ducked down. Secret service came and protected him. People in the audience hear those who were attending — initial confusion.”
“This is not something you are expecting when you are at an event like this. We get down on the ground. We hear those continued pop, pop, pop, pop, pops. They kept going. It felt like for a long time for those of us who were here on site,” Burns concluded.
Here is how NBC's @DashaBurns described the shots: "We heard at first what I thought might have been fireworks. Even saw a little bit of smoke. Wasn't sure what was going on. My producer Bianca and I then realized this might be something more serious" and everyone ducked. pic.twitter.com/HVNxOkhWkV
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 13, 2024
Fox News’ Chad Pergram tweeted that Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser said that it appeared multiple members of the crowd may have been shot.
CBS’s Scott MacFarlane commented, “Let me be unequivocal about something. This is a security failure of epic, historic proportions, that there was some type of explosive noise.”
Biden and other politicians rush to condemn violence
Following what appeared to be an attempted assassination of the former president, politicians and other notable public figures released a flood of statements in support of Trump and decrying the violence.
“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well,” Biden said in a statement. “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”
Biden appeared live in front of press and cameras shortly after the statement was issued, offering further remarks.
“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” the president said. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Vice President Kamala Harris shared her relief that Trump was not seriously injured and condemned the act.
“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 said.
“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” former President Barack Obama wrote. “Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”
There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 13, 2024
Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan delivered one of the most emotional responses, writing, “F–king unacceptable. Zero tolerance for violence of any sort. I pray the former President is ok and all attendees. I don’t give a s–t what ur politics are. The competition is at the ballot box, not with guns. Let’s pray for peace and nonviolence in America.”
Fucking unacceptable. Zero tolerance for violence of any sort. I pray the former President is ok and all attendees. I don’t give a shit what ur politics are. The competition is at the ballot box, not with guns. Let’s pray for peace and nonviolence in America. https://t.co/qZ48uUvXd1
— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) July 13, 2024
However, some took the moment to go on the attack, notably far-right Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“Democrats wanted this to happen,” she wrote. “They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen.”
She went on to list members of Congress who she said had cosponsored legislation to end the former president’s Secret Service protection.
“Why would they want that? You know the reason,” the representative continued. “Others may have been killed —innocent people that were there supporting President Trump and all they wanted was to Make America Great Again and they may have been murdered for it. Thank GOD Secret Service was there for Trump and everyone else at today’s rally.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, himself a former presidential candidate, issued a statement that read, “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”
Political violence is absolutely unacceptable.
I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 13, 2024
Former presidential candidate and Biden transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “In this horrible moment, encouraged to hear President Trump’s team indicate that the former president is doing well. An entire nation must speak with one voice today to completely and unequivocally reject all political violence.”
Elon Musk seized the moment to endorse Trump for president. In a short post shared on X that included video of Trump from after the shooting, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
“Reports of the shooting in Pennsylvania are horrifying,” Rep. Liz Cheney wrote. “Violence of any kind has no place in American politics. We are grateful for the reaction of Secret Service and other law enforcement and pray for the former president and all those injured.”
Meghan McCain wrote, “Please join me and my family in immediately praying for our great nation and the entire Trump family.”
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