- Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- The suspect and an innocent bystander were killed, and two others were injured.
- Trump thanked law enforcement and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
- The Secret Service is under scrutiny for the security lapse.
Former President Donald Trump addressed the nation after surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
What Donald Trump said after assassination attempt?
In his statement, Trump thanked the United States Secret Service and law enforcement for their rapid response.
Trump’s rally took a tragic turn when a gunman opened fire from an elevated position outside the event.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and injured individuals at the rally.
Trump detailed the incident, describing how he was shot in the upper part of his right ear, causing significant bleeding.
“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 realised then what was happening,” he recalled.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and injured individuals at the rally.
Despite the injury, Trump remained resolute, stating, “GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The FBI confirmed that the shooter and an innocent bystander were killed, while two others were seriously injured.
Trump’s campaign team later sent out an email quoting him saying, “I will never surrender,” highlighting his determination in the face of the attack.
Secret Service under scrutiny over lapse in security
The Secret Service is facing intense scrutiny after the assassination attempt on Trump.
Secret Service Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that the shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage at approximately 18:15 EST (02:15 CAT) from an elevated position.
The suspected shooter, whose identity has not been released, was neutralised by Secret Service agents at the scene.
According to reports, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police stated that law enforcement is investigating several suspicious occurrences, including witness accounts of unusual activity near the rally moments before the shooting.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek highlighted the proximity of the shooter to the rally as a critical point of the investigation, indicating that the Secret Service needs to address the security lapse.
“It is surprising. The Secret Service really needs to answer that question. They conduct the initial site survey,” he said.
Attendees at the rally described a chaotic scene as gunshots rang out and agents rushed Trump to the ground.
Trump was seen reaching for his ear, visibly bleeding, before being whisked away by the Secret Service with his fist raised in defiance. Steven Cheung, Trump’s spokesperson, confirmed that the former president is “fine” but had been examined by doctors at a local medical facility.
President Joe Biden spoke with Trump after the incident, expressing concern and solidarity.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy were also involved in discussions about the attack.
Law enforcement officials recovered an AR-style rifle from the scene and are continuing their investigation to uncover more details about the motive and planning behind the assassination attempt.
