Gunfire erupted at a rally of former U.S. President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening, causing panic among attendees and leaving the Republican presidential candidate bloodied but safe.
As shots rang out, Trump grabbed his right ear, then dropped to his knees behind the podium as Secret Service agents surrounded him. He emerged moments later, visibly shaken and without his signature red “Make America Great Again” hat.
The Secret Service confirmed that Trump is “safe.” The shooter was shot dead, and the incident is being investigated as a possible assassination attempt. An audience member was killed, and two others are in critical condition.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump posted on social media later in the evening. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
President Joe Biden, briefed on the incident in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, condemned the violence. “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” he said. “It’s sick. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
Leaders from around the world expressed shock and condemnation, denouncing political violence and wishing Trump a swift recovery. General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Trump, expressing concern over the incident.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated, “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally. French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting “a tragedy for our democracies.”
A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the shooting as an “act of political violence.”
Law enforcement sources reported that the shooter fired from outside the venue, possibly from a rooftop. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities search for a motive and assess security measures at political events.
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Trump bloodied but 'safe' after gunfire erupts at Pennsylvania rally
cgtn.com
