Donald Trump Shot During Campaign Rally in Pennsylvania; Suspected Shooter Dead

Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump was assisted by security personnel after gunfire erupted during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Trump was hit in the ear, causing blood to streak across his face. Security agents quickly surrounded him before he reemerged, pumped his fist, and mouthed "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The shooter was killed, one rally attendee died, and two spectators were injured, according to the Secret Service. The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt. Law enforcement has tentatively identified a suspect but has not released further details or a motive.

Trump, 78, had just begun his speech when the shots were fired. He grabbed his right ear and then dropped to his knees behind the podium before being covered by Secret Service agents. He emerged a minute later without his red "Make America Great Again" hat and could be heard saying "wait, wait" before being rushed to a black SUV.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump later confirmed he was shot in the upper part of his right ear, which caused significant bleeding. The shooting occurred less than four months before the November 5 election, in which Trump faces a rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden. Polls show a close contest between the two candidates.

Leading figures from both parties quickly condemned the violence. The Trump campaign reported that he was "doing well." President Biden stated, "There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it." Republican US Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas reported that his nephew was wounded at the rally.

The incident raised questions about potential security lapses by the Secret Service, which provides lifetime protection to former presidents, including Trump. This was the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempt on President Ronald Reagan's life.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Trump had left the Butler area under Secret Service protection, with assistance from the Pennsylvania state police. Republican US Representative Daniel Meuser said Trump was headed to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showed Secret Service snipers on a nearby roof responding to the gunfire by opening fire. An eyewitness, Ron Moose, described hearing about four shots and seeing the crowd and Trump quickly react. The BBC interviewed another witness who saw a man with a rifle on a nearby roof and tried to alert security.

The shots appeared to come from outside the secured area, according to the Secret Service, and the FBI has taken over the investigation. CNN reported that the FBI had identified the suspected shooter as a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man.

Trump is set to receive the Republican nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the violence, calling it a "horrific act of political violence" that has no place in the country. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed relief that Trump was safe and stated that political violence is unacceptable.

The Biden campaign announced a pause in television ads and other outbound communications. Recent Reuters/Ipsos polling shows that two out of three Americans fear violence following the election.

Some of Trump's Republican allies suggested that the attack was politically motivated, with US Representative Steve Scalise pointing to past instances of violent rhetoric from the left. Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, had solidified his lead for the Republican nomination despite facing multiple legal challenges, including four separate criminal prosecutions. He claims these prosecutions are politically motivated attempts by Biden to prevent his return to power.

Republican US Senate candidate David McCormick, who was present at the rally, described the scene as terrifying and felt it was an assassination attempt.