Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement that the former president is “safe” following a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, where local prosecutors say the suspect and at least one other attendee were killed.
“President Trump thanks the police and emergency responders for their swift action in response to this heinous incident,” spokesman Steven Chang said in a statement. “He is in good spirits and is being examined at a local medical facility. More details will be released at a later date.”
“The former president is safe,” the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspect is dead and that at least one other rally attendee was killed.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was showing off a graph showing the number of people crossing the border at his final rally before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday when the shooting began.
After the first beep, Trump said “Ahhh,” then crouched down and clutched his ears after two more beeps.
As agents tackled former President Trump, someone could be heard near the podium microphone saying, “Down, down, down, down, down!” As they were trained, agents jumped on top of the president, using their bodies to protect him, while other agents took positions on the stage to search for threats.
Screams could be heard from the crowd of several thousand people, and explosions continued to sound as investigators helped him onto the stage.
Trump was seen standing up a few minutes later and reaching his right hand over his face, which appeared to be bloody.
He stood and pumped his fist, and the crowd cheered.
His motorcade left the venue a few minutes later.
Police began to withdraw from what local police described as a crime scene shortly after Trump left the stage.
The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident. The president received updates from U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood Randall.
“I’m glad to hear he’s safe and well, and I’m praying for him, his family and all who were at the rally,” Biden said in a statement.
President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo on Twitter of President Trump with his fist raised in front of the American flag and a bloody face, commenting, “He will never stop fighting to save America.”
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who was a finalist for Trump’s running mate, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance all quickly issued statements expressing their concern for Trump. Rubio posted a photo of Trump being escorted off stage with his fist raised and blood on his face, along with the words “God protect President Trump.”
Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, said in a statement about X that he had been briefed on the situation and that Pennsylvania State Police were on scene at the rally.
“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is completely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he said.
