WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump sustained a bullet wound to his ear in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Despite the injury, Trump is reported to be in stable condition.
The gunman, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire during the rally before being killed by Secret Service agents. The attack resulted in one fatality among the spectators and left two others critically injured.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump described the incident: “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.” He expressed gratitude towards law enforcement and first responders for their swift actions during the attack. “GOD BLESS AMERICA!” he added.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence, calling it “sick” and emphasizing that such acts are unacceptable in America. “The idea – the idea – that there’s political violence, or violence in America like this, is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate. Everybody must condemn it,” Biden said from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Here’s what we know about the attack:
Details of the Attack
The incident occurred while Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. As shots were fired, Trump grabbed his right ear and fell to the stage floor. Secret Service agents quickly escorted him to safety, and he was later seen raising a defiant fist as he was hurried offstage.
Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, confirmed that Trump was being evaluated at a local medical facility but was otherwise “fine.”
Suspect and Investigation
The FBI reported that Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired several shots from an elevated position approximately 150 yards from the rally venue. A witness claimed to have tried to warn local authorities about the sniper before the shooting began. The FBI has not yet established a motive for the attack.
President Biden’s comments underscored the necessity for national unity and a rejection of political violence. “We must unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot condone this,” he urged.