Former President Donald Trump was shot while speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday. The incident, which occurred while Trump was addressing his supporters, resulted in the death of the suspected gunman and left one spectator dead and two others critically injured.
Trump revealed on social media that he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear" during the chaos. The suspected gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by the Secret Service.
Federal authorities have confirmed the incident as an assassination attempt. The Secret Service stated on social media that "multiple shots" were fired, which led to the tragic death of a spectator and critical injuries to two others. The gunman used a rifle, firing from an elevated position outside the rally.
The former president is reportedly doing well and expressed gratitude to law enforcement and first responders for their swift action, according to the Republican National Committee. Authorities are currently investigating Crooks's motives and the breach in security that allowed the incident to occur at such a high-security event.
President Joseph Biden issued a statement on the attempted assassination, stating, "There is no place in America for this sort of violence." Biden has returned to Washington from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to address the situation.
In a statement published on X, formerly Twitter, former President Barack Obama said, "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. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery."
Messages of concern and support have poured in from leaders across the political spectrum, including both Democrats and Republicans, as well as former presidents. International leaders also expressed their shock and condemnation of the attack. French President Emmanuel Macron described the attempt as "a tragedy for our democracies," while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife expressed their shock and prayers for Trump's safety.
The attack has raised questions about how the shooter was able to take a clear shot at the former president. Former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow stated on CNN, "We came millimeters away from losing former President Trump to an assassination. That cannot happen ever again." He emphasized the need for the Secret Service to reassess their protocols to prevent future threats.
Investigators faced challenges in identifying Crooks, who was not carrying any identification. They eventually confirmed his identity through DNA, photographs, and other information. Crooks lived in Bethel Park, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, about an hour's drive south of Butler, where the rally took place.
