Trump campaign says candidate ‘fine’ after being removed from stage following apparent shooting at rally

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) —Donald TrumpThe former president appeared to be the target of an assassination attempt while speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, law enforcement officials said. Secret Service agents quickly pulled the former president, who had blood on his ear, away, and his campaign said he was “fine.”

The attack, carried out by a shooter who law enforcement officials say was killed by the Secret Service, was the first attempted assassination of a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was assassinated in 1981. It comes amid a highly polarized political climate, just four months before the presidential election and days before Trump is formally named the Republican nominee for president.His party conference.

The local prosecutor said the suspect in the shooting and at least one bystander were killed.

“President Trump thanks law enforcement and emergency responders for their swift action during this heinous act,” White House spokesman Stephen Cheung said in a statement. “He is doing well and being evaluated at a local medical facility. We will have more details later.”

“The former president is safe,” the Secret Service said in a statement. Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said just after 8 p.m. that he had spoken to his father by phone and that he was “in great spirits.”

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” President Joe Biden, who is challenging Trump as a potential Democratic nominee, said in remarks.

Two officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation, said the shooter was not at the rally and was killed by Secret Service agents.

Officials said the shooter was engaged in a counterattack by members of the Secret Service’s counter-assault team, and was killed. The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party candidates and is supposed to respond to any active threats while other agents focus on protecting and evacuating the person in the protective facility.

It is not yet clear whether Trump was shot or injured while being dragged to the ground by agents.

The suspected gunman was killed, as was at least one protester, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in a telephone interview.

Demonstration disrupted by gunfire

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing a graphic showing the number of border crossings during his final rally before the Republican National Convention opened on Monday when apparent gunshots began.

It took two minutes from the moment the first shot was fired for Trump to be placed in a waiting SUV.

As Trump spoke, a popping sound was heard, and the former president put his right hand to his right ear, while people in the stands behind him looked on in shock.

When he heard the first shot, Trump said, “Oh,” then held his ear, then heard two more shots, then ducked. Then he heard more shots.

Someone near the microphone at Trump’s podium was heard saying, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents confronted the former president. They gathered above him to shield him with their bodies, as is standard practice in their training protocol, while other agents took up positions on the stage to scan for threats.

Screams could be heard in the crowd of several thousand people. A woman’s voice could be heard screaming louder than the rest of the crowd. Then, voices could be heard saying “Shooter down” several times, before someone asked “Are we ready to move?” and “Is it safe?” and then someone ordered “Let’s move.”

Trump can be heard saying at least twice in the video: “Let me get my shoes, let me get my shoes,” with another voice heard saying: “I got you, sir.”

Moments later, Trump got to his feet and appeared to extend his right hand to his face. His face appeared to be covered in blood. He then raised his fist in the air and appeared to say the word “fight” twice to the crowd of his supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of “USA. USA. USA.”

The crowd cheered as he got up again and waved his fist.

His motorcade left the scene moments later. Video showed Trump turning to the crowd and raising his fist before being bundled into a car.

Police began clearing the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officials described as a crime scene.

Political Violence Shakes America Again

Campaign risks took on new importance after the assassination of Robert Kennedy in California in 1968, and again in 1972 when Arthur Bremer shot and critically wounded George Wallace, who was running as an independent on a platform sometimes compared to Trump’s. This led to increased protection for candidates, even as threats continued, most notably against Jesse Jackson in 1988 and Barack Obama in 2008.

Presidents, especially after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, enjoy higher levels of security protection. Trump is rare, both as a former president and as a current candidate.

The White House said Biden was briefed on the incident. He received an update from Kimberly Shettle, chief of staff to the U.S. Secretary of State, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

He told reporters after 8 p.m. that he had not yet been able to reach Trump but had been told the former president was “doing well.”

“I wish I could talk to him tonight,” he said.

After the shooting at the Trump rally, the Biden campaign halted all messaging to supporters and is working to pull all of its television advertising as quickly as possible, the campaign said.

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo on Twitter of Trump, his fist raised and his face bloodied in front of the American flag, with the words: “He will never stop fighting to save America.”

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, the three men on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, were quick to send out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio posting a photo taken while escorting Trump off the stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face alongside the words “God bless President Trump.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement on Channel X that he had been briefed on the situation and that Pennsylvania State Police were present at the rally site.

“Violence targeting any political party or political leader is completely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he said.

—Jill Colvin, Colleen Long, Julie Carr Smith, Michael Balsamo, Eric Tucker, Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press