Donald Trump Shot During Campaign Rally, Incident Being Investigated As Assassination Attempt – Essence

The shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is being investigated as an attempted assassination, according to law enforcement officials. The shooter has been killed. One rally attendee was also killed, and two other attendees have been critically injured, The Associated Press reports.

The former president was rushed off the stage just minutes into his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday after loud sounds were heard. Trump had blood on the side of his head and his ear. Trump was speaking when he reached for the side of his face as popping sounds rang out over the rally. He then crouched down as Secret Service agents rushed the stage and surrounded him.

“I 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,” Trump wrote Truth Social. 

“I want to thank The United States Secret Service and all of Law Enforcement for their rapid response to the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured,” the former president added. 

According to a senior White House official, President Joe Biden, who is in Delaware for the weekend, has been briefed on the situation. Biden called the attack “sick” and thanked law enforcement in on-camera remarks. “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” Biden said. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening.”

“Everybody must condemn it,” Biden added. 

Vice President Kamala Harris said that she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, “are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting.”

She added that “violence such as this has no place in our nation,” urging everyone to “condemn this abhorrent act.”

Donald Trump Jr., one of the president’s children, wrote on X that his father will “never stop fighting to Save America.” His message was accompanied by a photo of his father pumping his fist with blood on his face.

Law enforcement officials have not yet released details on the identity of the shooter.

This is a developing news story and will continue to be updated as more details become available.