BUTLER, Pa. (AP) 㽶Ƶֱ Donald Trump㽶Ƶֱs campaign said in a statement that the former president was 㽶Ƶֱfine㽶Ƶֱ after a shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A local prosecutor says the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.
㽶ƵֱPresident Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,㽶Ƶֱ spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. 㽶ƵֱHe is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.㽶Ƶֱ
The Secret Service said in a statement that 㽶Ƶֱthe former President is safe.㽶Ƶֱ
Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday when the apparent shots began.
As the first pop rang out, Trump said, 㽶ƵֱOh,㽶Ƶֱ and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard and he crouched down.
Someone could be heard saying near the microphone at Trump㽶Ƶֱs lectern, 㽶ƵֱGet down, get down, get down, get down!㽶Ƶֱ as agents tackled the former president. They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, as other agents took up positions on stage to search for the threat.
Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.
Trump got to his feet moments later and could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face.
The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.
His motorcade left the venue moments later. His condition was not immediately known.
Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident, the White House said. He received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the United States Secretary Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Trump㽶Ƶֱs eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo on X of Trump, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: 㽶ƵֱHe㽶Ƶֱll never stop fighting to Save America.㽶Ƶֱ
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Trump㽶Ƶֱs shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio sharing an image taken as Trump was escorted off stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face along with the words 㽶ƵֱGod protected President Trump.㽶Ƶֱ
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement on X that he had been briefed on the situation and Pennsylvania state police were on hand at the rally site.
㽶ƵֱViolence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,㽶Ƶֱ he said.
Jill Colvin, Julie Carr Smyth, Eric Tucker And Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press