In a shocking turn of events, on July 13, former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was injured during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The rally was abruptly interrupted by explosions and gunfire, resulting in two fatalities.
During the rally, explosions were heard, prompting Trump to throw himself to the ground, quickly covered by his security personnel. Despite the chaos, Trump was only mildly injured, with a bullet grazing the top of his right ear. The deceased include the assailant and a supporter of Trump.
Trump addressed the incident on his social media platform, Truth Social: “I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement for their quick response to the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to express my deepest condolences to the family of the person who was killed at the rally, and also to the family of another person who was seriously injured.”
He further described his injury: “I was shot with a bullet that went through the top of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong because I heard a ringing, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet go through the skin. There was a lot of bleeding, then I realized what was going on. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Despite the incident, Trump confirmed in a subsequent post that he would continue his campaign, with plans to appear at an event in Wisconsin: “We will not be afraid.”
The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Crooks, a registered Republican voter, had previously donated to a Democratic-aligned group. He was killed during the incident.
President Joe Biden expressed his concern and condemnation: “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must come together as a nation to condemn it. I am grateful to know that he is safe and sound. I pray for him, for his family and for all who were present at the rally, and look forward to hearing more information.”
The incident has drawn reactions from leaders and public figures worldwide, emphasizing a unified stance against violence and the importance of security for public figures.
The investigation into the attack continues, with authorities looking into the motivations and background of the assailant. Trump’s campaign moves forward with heightened security measures, reflecting a nation grappling with the stark realities of political violence.
