Former United States President Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in what is being investigated as an assassination attempt. The incident occurred on Saturday, causing panic among the thousands of attendees. Trump’s campaign reported that he was “doing well” after the shooting, which left blood streaked across his face and pierced the upper part of his right ear.
The suspected assailant was shot dead by the Secret Service, while at least one spectator was killed and two others critically wounded. Trump, 78, had just begun his speech when the shots rang out. He immediately grabbed his right ear and dropped to his knees behind the podium. Secret Service agents swiftly surrounded him, and after a brief moment, Trump emerged and pumped his fist in the air, appearing to mouth the words “Fight! Fight! Fight!” He was then quickly escorted off the stage and into a vehicle.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the incident, saying, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. Much bleeding took place.” The identity and motive of the shooter remain unclear. This attack marks the most serious attempt to assassinate a US president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
The shooting occurred in a highly polarized political atmosphere, just four months before the presidential elections and days before Trump’s official nomination as the Republican candidate at his party’s convention, which his campaign confirmed would proceed as planned.
President Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent in the upcoming election, condemned the violence, stating, “There’s no place in America for this type of violence. It’s sick.” Witnesses at the rally described the chaos that ensued after the shots were fired, with Trump supporters and Secret Service agents taking immediate action to protect the former president.
The FBI has taken the lead in investigating the attack, which is being treated as an assassination attempt, according to unnamed officials cited by Reuters and the Associated Press. Leaders from both sides of the political aisle have condemned the shooting, with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson calling it a “horrific act of political violence” and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressing relief that Trump was safe.
Some Republican allies of Trump believe the attack was politically motivated, citing the ongoing rhetoric against the former president. Representative Steve Scalise, who survived a politically-motivated shooting in 2017, stated, “Clearly, we’ve seen far-left lunatics act on violent rhetoric in the past. This incendiary rhetoric must stop.” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed, “Democrats wanted this to happen. They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen.”
Donald Trump’s children took to social media to express their shock and support for their father. Global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, condemned the attack and called for a firm stand against violence that challenges democracy.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk voiced his endorsement of Trump, stating, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.” Musk shared a video of Trump being escorted away by Secret Service officials while pumping his fist.
