Gunshots rang out at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (July 13). The former president, who appeared to have blood on his ear and face, was immediately escorted from the stage by the Secret Service.
Trump, currently the Republican presidential candidate, is “fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility,” according to a statement obtained by The New York Times. Spokesman Steven Cheung did not provide the publication with any further information about whether he had been injured, but later on Saturday, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that he “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.”
The NYT reports one rally attendee and the suspected shooter were killed.
“I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.”
At the time of the shooting, Trump was photographed surrounded by Secret Service agents while raising his fist to the crowd before being rushed off to his motorcade.
The rally was being held on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show.
President Biden received a briefing about what happened at Saturday’s rally, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says state police arrived on the scene to work with federal partners.
In a televised address, President Joe Biden said “everybody must condemn” the attack and that he is relieved Trump is “doing well.” The Associated Press reports Biden’s campaign is pausing all messaging to supporters and pulling television ads.
As news of the assassination attempt spread across social media, with Trump’s name trending on X (formerly Twitter), a number of music artists and public figures posted reactions. X’s Elon Musk posted his endorsement of Trump for president, and commented, “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.”
“Trump was shot!!!” John Rich, of Big & Rich alerted his followers, later adding, “They couldn’t beat him in a fair contest, so they tried to kill him. BUT THEY MISSED.”
“Praying for our country rn,” said country singer and American Idol alum Scotty McCreery.
Josh Turner wrote: “Thank God President Trump is okay. Thoughts and prayers go up for him and for the family of the attendee whose life was taken at today’s rally.”
“I know the vibes,” noted 50 cent, posting a clip of his track “Many Men (Wish Death)” from Get Rich or Die Tryin’. “We are all in trouble now!”
Kid Cudi noted that the incident was “upsetting,” and said, “This aint cool. I aint voting for him and dont support him but wishing death on someone aint it.”
M.I.A. said she was “looking for bullet proof sun hats just for America.”
See various reactions to the incident at the Trump rally below.
