By Habeeb Ibrahim
Former U.S President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, mere days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third presidential run.
Trump, reportedly shot in the ear, was swiftly surrounded by Secret Service agents and escorted to his SUV.
According to AP News, Trump’s campaign confirmed that the presumptive GOP nominee was “doing fine” after the attack, which resulted in a bullet piercing the upper part of his right ear. “I knew immediately that something was wrong when I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place,” Trump later wrote on his social media platform.
The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The agency’s investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities confirmed one attendee was killed, and two spectators were critically injured.
All victims were men. The Secret Service reported killing the suspected shooter, who fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue at Butler Farm Show grounds.
The attack, the most severe attempt on a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, has heightened concerns about political violence in a deeply polarized United States, less than four months before the presidential election. It may significantly impact the Republican National Convention, set to commence on Monday in Milwaukee. Despite the incident, organizers have stated that the convention will proceed as planned.
Trump, after receiving treatment at a local Pennsylvania hospital, flew to New Jersey, landing at Newark Liberty International Airport shortly after midnight. Video footage posted by an aide showed the former president deplaning, flanked by heavily armed Secret Service agents—a visible display of increased security.
President Joe Biden, Trump’s rival in the upcoming election, was briefed on the incident and spoke with Trump hours after the shooting. “There’s no place in America for this type of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” Biden said in public remarks. He also cut short his weekend at his Rehoboth Beach home to return to Washington.
The shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was engaged by Secret Service agents positioned on the roof of AGR International Inc., a building just north of the rally site. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene. FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek indicated that the shooter had been killed by Secret Service agents after firing at the stage.
During the rally, Trump had just begun discussing border crossing numbers when the shots were fired. He quickly crouched behind his lectern as Secret Service agents shielded him and searched for the threat. Despite the chaos, Trump managed to stand and display a bloodied fist to his supporters before being escorted off stage.
The incident has drawn swift reactions from political figures across the spectrum. Former President Barack Obama stated, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.” Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence, among others, expressed prayers for Trump’s recovery. International leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, condemned the violence.
The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the motive behind the assassination attempt. Meanwhile, heightened security measures are expected at upcoming political events, especially with the Republican National Convention on the horizon.
