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Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, just days before he was set to accept the Republican nomination for a third time.
The incident caused panic as a barrage of gunfire erupted. Trump, who was shot in the upper part of his right ear, was quickly surrounded by Secret Service agents and escorted to his SUV. Despite the injury, Trump made a defiant gesture by pumping his fist.
Trump’s campaign reported that he was doing “fine” after the shooting. He later described the incident on his social media site, recounting the moment he heard the shots and felt the bullet.
The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service stated that Crooks was shot and killed by agents after he attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue. The incident resulted in one attendee's death and left two other spectators critically injured, all of whom were men.
This attack marks the most serious assassination attempt on a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
The incident has heightened concerns about political violence in a deeply polarised United States, especially with less than four months remaining before the presidential election.
This could impact the security measures at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which organizers have confirmed will proceed as planned.
Following the incident, Trump flew to New Jersey after a hospital visit in Pennsylvania. Video footage showed him arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport, accompanied by an unusually visible security detail.
President Joe Biden, Trump's opponent in the upcoming election, was briefed on the situation and spoke with Trump hours after the shooting. In his public remarks, Biden condemned the violence, stating, “There’s no place in America for this type of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick.”
Source: AP
