Former President Donald Trump, who aims to return to the White House in the US presidential election in November, was at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the 13th when he heard gunshots, and he later revealed that he was shot in the right ear. .
The horrific incident left the presidential campaign in turmoil, with bipartisan voices condemning political violence.
In addition to Trump being injured, one rally attendant was killed by gunfire, and two others are in critical condition. The Secret Service said in a statement that the person shot and killed the person who fired from a high position.
Multiple media outlets later reported that the FBI identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, citing an FBI statement. The authorities are treating the incident as an attempted murder, but they have not yet determined a motive.
Trump’s campaign said in a statement that he is “fine” and plans to continue attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which begins on the 15th The person in charge announced. The tournament is scheduled for four days, ending on the 18th, but security is likely to be stepped up in response to this incident.
Trump at the time of the incident
Source: Bloomberg
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased rally attendees and thanked law enforcement officials for their response.
“A bullet went through the top of my right ear,” Trump said. “I heard a whoosh, a gun shot, felt the bullet tear through my skin, and knew immediately something bad was happening. I was bleeding profusely and understood what happened.”
The bloody and chaotic scenes that erupted less than four months before the presidential election will certainly have a major impact on the divided, heated and tense political situation in the United States, which has been experiencing tension in recent years.
Trump was visiting Pennsylvania, one of the battleground states in the presidential election, before the Republican National Convention. He is preparing to announce his son is running.
At the rally, after hearing a loud popping sound, Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and surrounded Trump, yelling at him to duck. Trump’s supporters then cheered as he was escorted from the stage, bleeding and his fists clenched. After tests at a local medical institution, he was discharged from hospital on the night of the 13th.
President Biden made brief remarks in Delaware, condemning political violence. “We cannot allow this to happen and we cannot allow it to happen,” he said “Everybody must condemn it.”
Mr. Biden spoke with Mr. Trump after the incident and returned to the White House, cutting back on his plans for a weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The Biden campaign is working to reduce the TV commercial as soon as possible, a campaign official said.
When asked if the shooting was an assassination attempt, President Biden said he had an idea but didn’t have enough facts to make an assessment. The president is expected to receive an update from homeland security and law enforcement officials in Washington on the morning of the 14th. Mr. Biden also spoke directly with Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro (Democrat) and Mayor Dundoy de Butler, the scene of the incident.
Images of Trump, bleeding from his right ear and surrounded by Secret Service agents, raising his fist against the backdrop of flying American flags, have been widely shared on social media and television screens.
Many of Trump’s supporters, who have long seen him as a movement symbol and “martyr”, saw the photo from the incident as a metaphor for his resilience.
Several potential vice presidential and senatorial candidates expressed their support for Trump and shared images of him. “I fully support former President Trump and wish him a speedy recovery,” billionaire Elon Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter).
David Urban, a lobbyist and former informal adviser to Mr. Trump, said he expected Americans to rally around Mr. Trump after the shooting. “Donald Trump is a Fighter. This photo will be iconic.”
The shooting at the rally speaks to the sense of division, strife and politically charged violence in the presidential race, which is pitting Biden and Trump against each other. A May poll by Bloomberg News and Morning Consult found that half of voters in battleground states were concerned about violence before and after the election.
Half of voters in battleground states worry about US presidential election violence – poll
Prime Minister Kishida and other foreign leaders also condemn political violence
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told X on the 14th, “We must stand firm against the violence that challenges democracy.PostI sent a message.
In addition, a series of posts have been posted by leaders of developed countries such as British Prime Minister Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and Australian Prime Minister Albany Gee, as well as Brazilian President Lula and the Prime Minister of India Modi, saying that there will never be political violence. to suffer
President Biden condemns the incident
Source: Bloomberg
The Secret Service said in a statement that Trump was safe and that protective measures had been taken. Kevin Rozek of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office told reporters early that the suspect in the shooting had not been identified and that intelligence analysts were looking into “the motive for this.” He said he was there.
Meanwhile, multiple investigators told reporters that all of the dead and injured participants were adult men.
Attorney General Garland said the Justice Department’s national security division is also assisting in the investigation.
Butler County District Attorney Goldinger told CNN that the person who fired the shots was outside the venue.
Trump surrounded and protected by the Secret Service (July 13)
Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The incident happened just after 6:00 pm ET on the 13th (7:00 am on the 14th, Japan time), just a few minutes after Trump went to the podium to speak.
As the gunshots rang out, Trump crouched down, covering his ears with his hands. Security personnel moved in to protect Mr. Trump when multiple gunshots were heard and rally attendees screamed. All participants in the rally laid low for safety.
When one of the agents informed Mr. Trump that he was ready to be escorted, Mr. Trump replied that he wanted to put his shoes back on.
Security personnel later told Trump he was bleeding from the head. He stood up and started screaming and raised his fist several times. As Mr. Trump left the stage, the audience cheered, “USA! USA!” Trump was loaded into a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and taken to a medical facility for examination.
Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties are demanding an investigation into the shooting and whether there were any security lapses. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman Comer (R) said he has contacted the Secret Service for a report and will ask the Secret Service Secretary to attend the hearing.
Representative Torres (Democrat) posted on X, “The security failures related to the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate need to be investigated.”
Trump being escorted from the stage (July 13)
Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
President Biden said in a statement that he was “grateful” to hear that Trump was “safe and well.” “While we wait for more information, I am praying for him, his family, and everyone who attended the rally.”
“I thank the Secret Service Jill for getting him to safety. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must come together as one nation and condemn it.”
The White House said President Biden has received reports from Secret Service Secretary Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, and Homeland Security Advisor Sherwood Randall. Other aides, including the president’s chief of staff Zaients, also participated in the briefing.
Also at the rally was David McCormick, former CEO of the hedge fund firm Bridgewater Associates and now a Republican candidate for the Senate. McCormick said he heard seven or eight shots in a row and the person behind him was shot.
Related article:
Trump fled the stage after a fatal shooting at a rally
Original title:Trump ‘Fine’ After Assassination Attempt, FBI Names Suspects (1)、World Leaders Respond After Trump Injured In Shooting At Rally、Bloodied, Defiant Trump Image Pumps Up GOP Base After Shooting、Trump Sticks to Plans to Attend RNC Convention After Shooting(excerpt)
(Updated with the prospect of increased security at the Republican National Convention, etc.)