On July 13th, at 6:11 PM EST, multiple shots rang out at a Pennsylvania rally for Former President Donald J. Trump. President Trump, who was speaking, quickly reached for his ear and fell to the stage as United States Secret Service agents rushed to the Fmr. President’s aid as screams erupted from the crowd. After a chaotic but short exchange of gunfire, President Trump was rushed to his escort vehicle by the Secret Service. Without covering, ducking, or rushing away, President Trump pumped his fist in the air, reassured in that moment he was going to be okay, and mouthed the words ‘Fight. Fight. Fight’.
Donald J. Trump is the former President of the United States and the presumptive nominee of the Republican party for President. The Republican National Convention, taking place this year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is set to take place starting July 15th and would formally nominate Fmr. President Trump to be the official Republican nominee.
Prior to the convention, the Fmr. President has campaigned heavily across the country ahead of the 2024 Presidential election. Focusing on swing states, that is, states that have a history of going either way: Republican or Democrat, Fmr. President Trump was visiting Butler, Pennsylvania for a rally as Pennsylvania is a key state in order to secure a victory. The rally, with attendees estimated at 50,000, including notable government officials and candidates besides Fmr. President Trump, such as PA Republican Senate candidate, David McCormick and Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson.
The Rally started normally, with President Trump speaking on key talking points throughout his speech blasting the Biden administration and leading up to blasting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership.
“MAGA means Make America Great Again Joe, make America great again. That’s all we want to do. If he was doing the job, I wouldn’t even be doing this, I’d be at some beautiful place with a gorgeous ocean. In the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, maybe the Pacific.” President Trump said to an enthusiastic crowd.
Less than three minutes later, as President Trump goes off teleprompter explaining a chart on screen showing his administration having the lowest illegal immigration in recorded US history, numerous pops, as described by eyewitnesses as sounding like firecrackers, rang out, causing President Trump to grab the side of his head and fall to the ground (C-Span video has first shots fired at the 8:10 mark).
Secret Service agents then rushed to Fmr. President Trump shouting ‘Get down’, as additional shots were heard, some being from Secret Service snipers who, according to reports, took out the shooter within seconds of when the shooter opened fire. Screams erupted from the crowd, many people in the background of the stage ducked, with some standing to see what happened.
A minute later President Trump emerged from the protective circle of security detail where he was heard saying “my shoes, let me get my shoes.” The Fmr. President, blood across the side of his face, faced the crowd, slightly pushed through his protective circle, pumped his fist and mouthed ‘Fight’ multiple times to his supporters who looked on with shock, awe, and for many, fear. He was rushed off stage while continuing to pump his fist, with a look of defiance. He exited the event in a USSS SUV and was sent to a nearby local hospital.
There was one fatality, a former fire chief named Corey Comperatore, age 50, who was shot and killed while shielding his daughters from the gunfire according to relatives and PA Governor Shapiro. Two others were injured, excluding President Trump, one of whom was Congressman Ronny Jackson’s nephew.
The shooter has been identified by the FBI as 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a native of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was a registered Republican, according to federal campaign finance disclosures. However, he had donated to a voter turnout project through ActBlue, a donation platform for Democrats. He was killed by a member of the Secret Service Counter-Assault team almost immediately following when he opened fire into the Rally.
Following the assassination attempt on President Trump’s life, the shooting was met with shock and hundreds of released statements from notable politicians and figures ensued.
“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics” Fmr. President Barack Obama said in a post on X.
Fmr. Representative Gabby Giffords, a lawmaker who was shot in the head by a gunman in 2011 stated, “I’m holding former President Trump, and all those affected by today’s indefensible act of violence in my heart. Political violence is un-American and is never acceptable—never.”
“Violence has no place in America, especially in our political process. Hillary and I are thankful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those affected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the swift action of the U.S. Secret Service” Fmr. President Bill Clinton said in a statement.
“Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response” Fmr. President George W. Bush said in his statement.
International figures also joined in the outpouring of support, including newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Billionaire Elon Musk, spurred by the assassination attempt, made the decision to endorse President Trump in his re-election campaign saying, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
US President Joe Biden, who is running against Fmr. President Trump, in a battle to secure his own re-election, released a number of statements, including one given as President Biden was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“Look, there is no place in America for this kind of violence. 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”, the President continued, “It was just not appropriate. And we — everybody — everybody must condemn it. Everybody. I’ll keep you informed. And if I am able to speak to the — to Donald, I’ll — I’ll let you know that as well. But so far, it appears he’s doing well. Number one.”
As of 2:05 PM, July 14th, President Biden confirmed he had a short but good conversation with Fmr. President Trump.
President Trump’s campaign, a couple of hours after the attempt, stated that President Trump was doing fine and that he was alright. Fmr. President Trump released a statement from TruthSocial, and later on the following morning, reassured supporters that he would not allow his attendance at the RNC to be hindered by a gunman who attempted to silence him.
“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!”
