Former President Donald Trump was rushed off stage with blood dripping on his face after gunshots rang out at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One spectator at the rally is dead, and two are in serious condition.
The shooting is being investigated as an assassination attempt, CNN, the Associated Press and other outlets reported.
Secret Service Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the suspected shooter, who officials confirmed is dead, fired multiple shots toward the stage at approximately 6:15 p.m. He said the shooter was in an elevated position outside the rally.
Trump reached for his ear as noises erupted. Attendees at the rally began screaming as agents pushed Trump to the ground.
The former president was removed from the site by Secret Service, with his fist raised. Steven Cheung, Trump’s spokesperson, confirmed in a statement that the former president is “fine” but saw doctors at an area medical facility.
The former president said in a statement that “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.”
Law enforcement recovered AR-style rifle: reports
Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle from the scene of the shooting at Trump’s Pennsylvania political rally, according to reports from the Associated Press and the New York Times.
The AP cited a source familiar with the matter who wasn’t authorized to discuss investigation details. The New York Times cited two law enforcement officials.
The Secret Service earlier confirmed it “neutralized” the shooter, who is now dead. The shooter fired multiple shots from an elevated position toward the stage, the service said.
– Aysha Bagchi
‘Somebody failed’
A former Justice Department official and Trump legal aide called out the Secret Service after the close call in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
“A sick person on a roof with a rifle shoots at the former president and misses killing him by an absolute quirk of fate,” said Mark Corallo. “He turned his head a millimeter, and instead of it going through his brain, the shot glanced off his ear.”
“A guy on a roof with a rifle. That’s a security failure,” said Corallo, who was a Justice Department spokesman in the early 2000s and later served as spokesman for Trump’s legal team.
“The job of the protective detail is to protect the president. Somebody failed. Donald Trump got shot and it is as dark a day for America as I can remember.”
−Dan Morrison
Biden returning to White House after attack on Trump
President Joe Biden is cutting his weekend trip to Delaware short and heading back to the White House following the attack on Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Biden was scheduled to spend the weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and then travel Monday to Texas to deliver a speech on civil rights and democracy at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. Biden will now travel back to the White House on Saturday night.
– Michael Collins
FBI taking lead role in investigation after shooting at Trump rally, asks for tips
The FBI is assuming the role as “lead federal law enforcement agency” in the investigation of the shooting at Trump’s Pennsylvania political rally, the bureau said in a statement late Saturday.
Special agents from the bureau’s Pittsburgh field office responded immediately to the incident, including members of its crisis response team as well as evidence response technicians, the bureau said.
The bureau asked anyone with information that could help the investigation to call its tip line at: 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Trump issues statement on shooting, calls it ‘incredible that such an act’ can take place in US
Former President Donald Trump issued a statement on the shooting, thanking the Secret Service and law enforcement and extending his condolences to this person who was killed at he rally.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. 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. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
−Joey Garrison
Netanyahu sends prayers to Trump
Shortly after news broke about the shooting, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife were praying for former President Donald Trump.
“Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
Mayorkas: DHS working with law enforcement partners to investigate Trump rally shooting
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Saturday that has been briefed on the shooting incident and that DHS is working with law enforcement partners to respond and investigate the shooting
Mayorkas said maintaining the security of presidential candidates and their events are top DHS priority.
“We condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms and commend the Secret Service for their swift action today,” he said in a statement. “We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”
− Rebecca Morin
Biden calls shooting at Trump rally ‘sick,’ says he hopes to speak to Trump
Joe Biden delivered brief remarks about the shooting that occurred the Trump rally, calling it “sick” and saying he hopes to speak to Trump later Saturday night.
“There is no place for this kind of violence in America. It’s sick. It’s sick,” Biden told reporters at an emergency briefing room in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he is spending the weekend.
“It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Biden said he has tried to get a hold of Trump by phone but has been unsuccessful. “So far it appears he is doing well,” he said, adding that every agency in the federal government is assembling to thoroughly investigate the shooting. “There’s some reports, but not final reports.”
“The bottom line is, the Trump rally was a rally that should have been able to be conducted peacefully and without any problem,” Biden said. “But the idea – the idea – that there’s political violence, or violence in America like this, is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate. Everybody, every must condemn it. Everybody. “
Biden said he will keep the public informed “and if I’m able to speak to Donald, I’ll let you know that as well.”
Biden, when asked whether he believes the shooting was an assassination, said: “I have an opinion but I don’t have any facts. I want to make sure I have all the facts before I make some comment.”
Former Secret Service agent says apparent shooting may not immediately change Republican convention security
Former Secret Service agent Joe Funk told USA TODAY changing security for the Republican National Convention won’t be up next.
Now that Trump has been determined safe per reports from the Secret Service, the next steps are less about changing plans for Monday, and more finding how the violence happened in the first place.
“Most of the work that Secret Service is going to do is going to be pre-incident, ‘how did this guy get in… who is he? What was his motive? Is he connected with any other individuals?,” Funk said. “I think you’re going to see a lot of work pre-incident versus enhancing or ramping up security post-[incident].”
