Trump recovers after shooting at Pennsylvania campaign rally • Oklahoma Voice

BUTLER, Pa. — Former President Donald Trump was recovering Saturday from a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler that left a rally-goer and the gunman dead, authorities said. Two people were seriously injured in the incident, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

Shortly after Trump took the stage at 6 p.m., several loud bangs were heard and Trump was dragged off the stage. Video of the incident showed Trump reacting to something hitting his ear. Saturday’s event was scheduled to be his final campaign rally before he formally accepts the Republican Party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention next week.

Trump posted at 8:42 p.m. on his verified account on the Truth Social platform, seemingly confirming that he had been shot.

“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies for their quick response to the shooting in Butler. Pennsylvania. Most of all, I want to express my condolences to the family of the person killed at the rally and the family of another person who was seriously injured,” Trump wrote. “It is unbelievable that something like this can happen in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong because I heard a hissing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet go through the skin. There was severe bleeding so I realized what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Anthony Guglielmi, communications director for the US Secret Service, made a statement to reporters shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday:

“During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected gunman fired several shots at the stage from an elevated position outside the venue. U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the gunman, who has since died. U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and former President Trump is safe. One bystander was killed and two bystanders were seriously injured. This incident is currently under investigation. The Secret Service has notified the FBI.”

Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told CNN that the shooter was “off-site, so to speak. Frankly, I don’t know how he got to the place he was… we need to figure out how he got there.”

President Joe Biden condemned the shooting in a brief statement from Delaware: “There is no place for this kind of violence in America,” Biden said.

“This is sick, this is one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” he added. “We cannot allow this to happen. We cannot be like this, we cannot tolerate this.” Biden said he has tried to contact Trump and said the former president is seeing his doctors and appears to be doing well.

“FBI agents are on the scene in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and the FBI will continue to work with the U.S. Secret Service as the investigation progresses,” Bradford Arick, FBI spokesman in Pittsburgh, said in an email to the Capital-Star.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Bertha Cazy told the Capital-Star in an email: “The Pennsylvania State Police has troopers on the scene assisting the Secret Service in various capacities. Any other questions should be directed to the U.S. Secret Service, which is leading the investigation.”

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told reporters on Saturday: “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick response during this heinous act. He is doing well and is being evaluated at a local medical facility. Further details to follow.”