Trump injured in Pennsylvania rally shooting, two dead at the scene

Author: Financial Times, UK

Donald Trump was reported to be "safe" after being shot and injured at a rally in the swing state of Pennsylvania, an incident that left one audience member dead and two others injured.

After hearing gunfire, the Republican presidential candidate crouched down and was urgently escorted off the stage by armed Secret Service agents, with blood on his fists and on his right ear and cheek.

Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform that he was "hit by a bullet on the upper part of his right ear."

"It is currently unclear about the shooter's condition; he is deceased," the former president said.

The U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting current and former presidents, stated that at 6:15 PM local time, a suspect fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the rally venue toward the stage.

After the shooting, Donald Trump had blood on his face

"Secret Service agents neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased," added a statement from Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

The Secret Service confirmed that one audience member was dead and two others were critically injured, stating that Trump was "safe and being checked."

Video footage of the incident showed a Secret Service agent saying, "The shooter is down." Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger confirmed that one person standing behind Trump was shot dead, and another rally participant was in critical condition at a local hospital. The shooter has been killed, he said.

Trump being urgently escorted off stage by the Secret Service

The apparent threat to Trump's life marks the first time in decades that a sitting or former president has been a victim of a shooting incident. This dramatic event could disrupt an already tumultuous presidential campaign, with less than four months until the November election.

"I immediately realized something was wrong; I heard the whistling, the gunshots, and then immediately felt the bullet tear through my skin," Trump said in his post. "I bled a lot before I realized what had happened." He also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and injured participants.

The incident occurred just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is set to officially accept his party's nomination for president.

The Secret Service "has taken protective measures," Guglielmi stated on X.

"This is now an active Secret Service investigation, and further information will be released as it becomes available," he said. The FBI has stated it will conduct a joint investigation with the Secret Service.

U.S. President Joe Biden, in a televised address, said he had been trying to contact Trump, but the former president was with doctors.

"Clearly, he is doing well," Biden said in a brief speech at the Rehoboth Beach police station in Delaware, where he has a vacation home. "I hope to speak with him tonight."

When asked if this was an assassination attempt, Biden replied, "I have my own views, but no factual basis."

The president condemned the attack, stating, "This kind of violence has no place in America. It is sickening. That is why we must unite this country."

"You cannot allow this to happen. You cannot do this. We cannot tolerate this behavior," Biden continued. "The key is that Trump's rally should be able to proceed peacefully without any issues."

An official from Biden's campaign team stated that the president's reelection campaign is "pausing all external communications and pulling our TV ads as soon as possible."

The incident occurred just minutes after Trump began speaking at a rally for supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania. A witness told CNN that he heard 7 to 8 gunshots. The former president's rallies are typically secured by the Secret Service in collaboration with local authorities, conducting security checks similar to airport screenings.

The White House stated that Biden received a "preliminary briefing" from Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on X that he had received a situation report and was "praying for President Trump." Others, including Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence, expressed similar sentiments.

Several prominent Democrats also expressed support for the former president.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated in a statement that he felt "horrified" by what had happened, adding, "Political violence has no place in our country."

Several Democrats, including senior Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama, expressed similar views, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stating he "appreciated the swift response of law enforcement."

International leaders also expressed support, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed shock at the attack.

Elon Musk, owner of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, stated he "fully" supports Trump and hopes for his complete recovery. He wrote on the platform, "The last time America had such a tough candidate was President Theodore Roosevelt."