Former President Donald Trump was shot in the upper right ear but is fine, according to a spokesperson|@MattWallace888|X
Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Saturday during a campaign rally in Butler, PA. Trump was shot in the upper right ear but is fine, according to a spokesperson. However, the incident that took place less than 10 minutes into his speech, claimed the life of attendee Corey Comperatore.
Two other spectators are critically injured, according to law enforcement.
The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, gained rooftop access and used an AR-15-style rifle to shoot multiple rounds. He was swiftly neutralized by the Secret Service.
The incident drew global attention. President Joe Biden condemned the violence, urging for calm in political discourse and appealing for national unity.
The assassination attempt has raised questions for the Secret Service about how a sniper gained access to a roof roughly 150 meters from the former president’s podium. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has been called to testify on July 22 at a hearing by Republican congressional leaders.
Following the attempt, several business leaders, including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, publicly endorsed President Trump.
What now?
Just a day after the assassination attempt, Trump arrived in Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention. The conference is going ahead as planned. Trump posted on Truth Social that he had considered delaying his trip by two days “but have just decided that I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”
According to the Washington Examiner, the former president will call for a new effort at national unity in his convention speech.
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Ronald Regan in 1981, his approval ratings soared. A similar boost is expected for Trump as well.