WASHINGTON, July 13 — In a shocking turn of events at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday evening, former President Donald Trump was injured in an attempted assassination. This attack, described by the FBI as an assassination attempt, has escalated the already tense US election climate and further polarized the nation.
Incident
Around 6:15 PM in US time, Trump was struck by gunfire from an elevated position outside the rally venue, according to the US Secret Service. The gunfire resulted in the death of one spectator and critically injured several others. Trump, visibly bleeding from his right ear and cheek, was quickly escorted off the stage to his motorcade. Despite his injury, he managed to signal the crowd by pumping his fists and shouting “Fight!” before being driven away.
The Secret Service, tasked with protecting current and former presidents, confirmed that the shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage and was subsequently killed. The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, classifying the incident as an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Political and Global Reactions
The shooting has been widely condemned by political figures. President Joe Biden, who spoke to Trump shortly after the incident, described the attack as “sick” and emphasized the need for unity. “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden stated.
International leaders also voiced their dismay. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen all condemned the attack and wished Trump a speedy recovery.
Eyewitness Accounts and Trump’s Response
The gunfire erupted shortly after Trump began addressing his supporters in Butler, a rural town in northwestern Pennsylvania. Eyewitnesses and footage suggest that seven or eight shots were fired. On his Truth Social platform, Trump recounted being “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” describing the experience and extending condolences to the families of those killed and injured.
Law Enforcement Response
Initial assessments indicate that law enforcement was unaware of the shooter until the shots were fired. FBI agent Kevin Rojek noted at a news conference that it was surprising the shooter managed to fire multiple shots. The investigation into the shooter’s motive and weapon used is ongoing, with the FBI taking the lead.
Impact on the Election Campaign
After the incident, Trump left Butler County and flew to New Jersey, as confirmed by his campaign staff on social media. President Biden, briefed on the shooting shortly after it occurred, expressed relief that Trump was doing well and condemned the violence. The Biden campaign has paused all outbound communications and is working to pull down television ads in response to the incident.
Historical Significance and Political Climate
This assassination attempt marks a rare occurrence in American history, being the first time in decades that a current or former president has been targeted in a shooting. The incident comes less than four months before the November presidential election and just ahead of the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to accept his party’s nomination. Despite the harrowing experience, Trump’s campaign announced that he still plans to attend the convention and engage with his supporters.
Condemnation of Political Violence
US politics has seen heightened tensions and sporadic violence in recent years, including the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Some Republicans have attributed blame for the recent incident to the political rhetoric of the Biden administration. Ohio Senator JD Vance, a potential running mate for Trump, claimed that the Biden campaign’s portrayal of Trump as an authoritarian fascist contributed to the assassination attempt.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland has vowed to utilize every resource available in the investigation, with the FBI leading the efforts. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former President Barack Obama also condemned the attack, stressing that political violence has no place in the United States and calling for a unified response to prevent such incidents in the future.
