LAST UPDATE | 14 Jul
ONE PERSON HAS been killed and a gunman has been shot dead after a number of gunshots were fired towards Donald Trump as he spoke at a rally in Pennsylvania.
The former US president was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents after several gunshots were heard during his speech.
The former US president put a hand to his head as he ducked down behind the podium, and then appeared to be bleeding from his ear as agents swiftly escorted him off the platform. Trump briefly turned back towards the crowd and raised a fist in the air.
The crowd chanted ‘USA, USA’ as he was put into a black car and driven away.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign said that the former president is “fine” and is being “checked out at a local medical facility”.
US president Joe Biden said he is “grateful to hear that [Trump] is safe and doing well”.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.
The Secret Service confirmed that the former president “is safe” and the area is being treated as a crime scene.
“The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe,” the head of communications for the Secret Service Anthony Guglielmi said on X. “This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
A clip of the incident aired on CNN shows Trump being surrounded by Secret Service agents while multiple shouts of ‘shooter down’ are heard. Another voice is then heard asking if they are clear to move. As they attempt to begin the evacuation, Donald Trump says, ‘Let me get my shoes’.
There has been widespread condemnation of the attack.
“I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” said US president Joe Biden.
He added: “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Former US president Barack Obama said that there is ‘absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy’.
“Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics,” he wrote on X.
Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was wounded in an attack in 2022, said: “As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe. As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former President’s rally today are unharmed.”
US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who is a Democrat, also condemned the attack.
“I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country,” Schumer wrote on X.
Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell wrote on X: “Tonight, all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics.”
The rally was to be Trump’s final one before the Republican party convention starts on Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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