Donald Trump arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday, where he will be formally nominated as the Republican presidential candidate later this week. This comes after surviving an assassination attempt that has further polarized the U.S. political landscape.
President Joe Biden has ordered a review of the security breach that allowed a 20-year-old man with an AR-15-style rifle to shoot at Trump from a rooftop during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack left Trump with a minor injury to his right ear, while one person in the crowd was killed and two others wounded before the Secret Service neutralized the suspect. Trump, addressing the incident, expressed relief at his narrow escape and emphasized a need for unity. He is set to accept his party’s nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, promising a speech that reflects recent events.
Read More: Trump Shot in Ear at Rally, Shooter Killed in Assassination Attempt
In a televised address, Biden condemned the violence and called for a reduction in heated political rhetoric. Both Biden and Trump spoke on Saturday night following the shooting, with the First Ladies also communicating the following day. The FBI has identified the suspect as Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and is treating the incident as an attempted assassination. The investigation revealed that Crooks acted alone, with no identified ideological or mental health issues. The AR-style rifle used in the attack was legally purchased by the suspect’s father.
The Secret Service has denied accusations of insufficient security measures and stated that additional protective resources had been recently added for Trump. The rally attendee who was killed has been identified as Corey Comperatore, who died while protecting his family. Two others injured in the attack are in stable condition. The political climate in the U.S. remains tense, with fears of rising political violence highlighted by recent polls. The attack on Trump marks the first shooting of a U.S. president or major party presidential candidate since the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
