Former President Donald Trump is being evaluated at a medical facility but is “fine” after an incident where he was rushed off stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, his campaign said.
The shooter is dead, one bystander at the rally also died, and a third person is critically injured, the Butler County district attorney said. The district attorney also told CNN that the shooter was outside the event grounds.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” Trump spokesman Stephen Cheung said in a statement Saturday. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
Trump was seen grabbing at his ear after loud popping noises were heard at the rally. Secret Service agents rushed to the stage, yelling “get down” and formed a circle around the former president.
Trump suffered heavy bleeding from the injury to his ear, according to a person familiar with his condition.
President Joe Biden delivered brief remarks from Delaware, condemning political violence. “We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this,” Biden said. “Everybody must condemn it.”
Biden said he had been unable to reach Trump, who was with his doctors, but that he hoped to speak with him Saturday night.
Asked if the shooting was an assassination attempt, the president said he had an opinion but did not have enough facts to make that assessment.
After slowly standing up, Trump pumped his fist in the air and waved to the crowd before exiting the stage in a ring of agents. He appeared to have blood on his right ear. Other people at the rally also appeared to be injured, according to a person at the event.
The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that Trump was safe and that they had implemented protective measures.
“This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the agency said in a post on X.
The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police are on the scene assisting in the investigation, the agencies said.
Immediately after shots were fired rally attendees dove to the ground, ducking for cover. Police told onlookers to leave the event. Many listened and rushed off, particularly those with kids. Others milled around and there were a couple instances of small fights that broke out between people as they made their way out.
The incident happened about 6:13 p.m. Eastern time, just a few minutes after Trump began speaking on stage.
David McCormick, the former Bridgewater Associates chief executive officer turned Republican Senate candidate, was at the rally.
In a statement earlier Saturday, Biden said he was “grateful” to hear Trump was “safe and doing well.”
“I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” Biden said. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
The Biden campaign is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down television ads as soon as they can, according to a campaign official.
Biden was briefed on the incident by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall. The president’s chief of staff and other aides also participated in the briefing.
Trump was visiting swing-state Pennsylvania for his last rally before the Republican National Convention begins on Monday, and as he is preparing to announce his vice presidential pick.
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