(See updates beneath the original article.)
Former President Donald Trump had just begun speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, today when a gunman (or gunmen) opened fire and hit him in the ear.
Video shows Trump speaking then grabbing his ear after two pops. After he ducked, the gunfire continued.
Sky News reported that one person is dead. [Later reports said two were dead, including the would-be assassin.]
The New York Times reported the following in a series of live updates:
A spokesman for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a statement that Trump “is safe” after “an incident occurred” at his rally in Pennsylvania. He did not provide further details….
Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman, said former President Donald J. Trump is “fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.” He added that Trump “thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.”
As Secret Service agents swarmed and tackled Trump and rushed him off the stage, the 78-year-old raised a defiant fist to the crowd and shouted “Fight!” He was quickly flown by helicopter to a hospital.
“Agents could be heard saying a shooter was down — then the ex-president says ‘let me get my shoes,’” Sky News reported.
Just today in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris said that Trump is a politician who “incites hate,” the Times reported:
Someone who vilifies immigrants, who promotes xenophobia, who stokes hate and who incites fear should never again have the chance to stand behind a microphone. And never again have the chance to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States of America.
UPDATES:
President Biden spoke to reporters at a police department near his home in Rehoboth, Delaware, The New York Times reported:
“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Mr. Biden said in a nationally televised statement. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Mr. Biden said he had tried to reach Mr. Trump but was not able to talk with him because the former president was with his doctors. He said he would try again later in the evening. “Apparently, he’s doing well,” the president said. “I plan on talking with him shortly, I hope.”
Biden referred to Trump as “Donald.”
But X users, including liberal law Professor Jonathan Turley, quickly noted that Biden told donors in a telephone call that it was time to put a “bullseye” on his Republican opponent.
A defiant President Joe Biden insisted to his donors on Monday that he is “done talking about the debate” and implored the party to ignore any further distractions and direct its attention back to Donald Trump.
“We need to move forward. Look, we have roughly 40 days til the convention, 120 days til the election. We can’t waste any more time being distracted,” Biden said in a private call with donors Monday, according to a recording obtained by POLITICO.
On his Truth Social media site, Trump issued the following statement:
I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. 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. 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!
A former White House press corps photographer captured the moment just before the bullet hit Trump’s ear:
A Secret Service counterassault sniper killed the assassin, who remain officially unidentified.
One witness explained what happened, and wanted to know how the assassin got within range of Trump:
