During a campaign rally on Saturday, Donald Trump was shot in the ear, causing his blood to streak across his face. His security agents immediately surrounded him, and he emerged shortly after, pumping his fist and mouthing “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
The shooter was killed, one rally attendee died, and two other spectators were injured. The Secret Service stated that the incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt. Law enforcement officials have tentatively identified a suspected shooter but have not released the name or motive.
Trump, 78, had just begun his speech when the shots were fired. He initially grabbed his right ear and then dropped to his knees behind the podium as Secret Service agents swarmed him. A minute later, Trump emerged without his “Make America Great Again” hat and was heard saying “wait, wait” before agents rushed him to a black SUV.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump later stated, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. Much bleeding took place.” The shooting happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, less than four months before the Nov. 5 election against Democratic President Joe Biden.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders quickly condemned the violence. President Biden called for unity and condemned the violence, while Trump’s campaign confirmed he was “doing well.” The incident has raised questions about the security measures of the Secret Service, which provides lifetime protection to former presidents, including Trump.
The shooting is the first targeting a U.S. president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that Trump had left Butler under Secret Service and state police protection, heading to Bedminster, New Jersey.
Secret Service Snipers in Action
A video on X (formerly Twitter) showed Secret Service snipers responding to the gunman, taking aim and opening fire. Witnesses reported hearing four shots, with one describing seeing a man with a rifle on a roof near the event.
The shots appeared to come from outside the secured area, and the FBI has taken over the investigation. CNN reported that the suspected shooter is a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man.
Reactions from Political Leaders
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer both condemned the violence. Biden’s campaign paused its television ads and other outbound communication in response to the incident.
Recent polling shows Americans are increasingly concerned about political violence, with two-thirds of respondents fearing violence around the election. Some of Trump’s allies believe the attack was politically motivated, linking it to inflammatory rhetoric from political opponents.
Trump’s Political Standing
Trump, who served as president from 2017-2021, remains a dominant figure in the Republican Party despite legal challenges. He faces several criminal prosecutions but claims they are politically motivated efforts by President Biden to prevent his return to power.
Republican Senate candidate David McCormick, present at the rally, described the event as an assassination attempt, expressing his terror at the unfolding situation.
