Biden speaks with Trump after deadly rally shooting; suspect reportedly opened fire from roof with AR-style rifle – latest updates | Donald Trump
What we know about the Trump rally shooting
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Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when loud noises were heard in the crowd around 6.13pm.
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Trump appeared to have been struck by something in the area of his right ear as he was speaking, and videos show him quickly clutching his ear and then ducking down to the ground, as security agents and others leap to his aid.
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One spectator was killed and at least two were injured.
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Trump stood up with blood on the side of his face and appeared to be saying “fight, fight” while pumping his fist.
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Trump was then quickly escorted from the stage and into his vehicle.
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The rally location is now an active crime scene. The FBI has taken over the investigation.
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Trump’s team and the Secret Service confirmed that he was “fine” and being checked at a local medical facility.
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Trump later posted a statement on Truth Social, saying he was hit by a “bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear”. There are also reports that the former president was hit by shards of glass.
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The Butler county district attorney confirmed that the suspected shooter and one rally attendee were dead. One person at the rally was in serious condition. The Secret Service later said two people were critically injured.
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The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination.
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The Secret Service shared more details on the shooter’s position and confirmed that the shooter was killed by the Secret Service. ABC News reported that law enforcement officials the suspect was perched on a rooftop and used an AR-style rifle.
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The president, Joe Biden, said “everybody must condemn political violence” in a speech shortly after the shooting. The White House later said the president and Trump had spoken. Biden is traveling back to the White House.
Key events
World leaders condemn shooting at Trump rally, denounce political violence
Leaders from multiple nations have condemned the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania, denounced political violence and wished Trump a quick recovery.
A spokesperson of United Nations secretary general António Guterres condemned the shooting and called it an “act of political violence.”
Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said:
We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.
British prime minister Kier Starmer said he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally.
Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said the shooting was “concerning and confronting”, while Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said it left him “sickened”.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the shooting left him shocked.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, who met Trump this week while visiting the US for a Nato summit, said his prayers were with the former president “in these dark hours.”
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the shooting unacceptable while also urging others to condemn it.
The attack against former president Donald Trump must be vehemently repudiated by all defenders of democracy and dialogue in politics. What we saw today is unacceptable
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi called Trump a friend and wished him a speedy recovery while saying: “Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies.”
Trump posted on social media that he had been shot in the upper part of his right ear and that there was “much bleeding.” His campaign said he was “doing well,” and Bloomberg News reported he had been released from the hospital.
Secretary of defense Lloyd Austin releases statement on shooting at Trump rally
The entire Department of Defense condemns this violence, which has absolutely no place in our democracy. This is not the way that we resolve our differences in America – and it must never be. I’m relieved that reports indicate former President Trump is safe, and I am praying for him and his family and everyone affected by this appalling incident.
Attorney general Merrick Garland issues statement after Trump rally shooting
The Justice Department has issued the following statement from attorney general Merrick B. Garland on the shooting at former President Donald J. Trump’s rally:
I have been briefed on the shooting at former President Trump’s rally, and have briefed the President. The FBI, ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Department’s National Security Division are currently working with the Secret Service as well as state and local law enforcement partners on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania.
My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack.
We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.
Elon Musk endorses Trump in presidential race, calls him ‘tough’
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, has publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the first time in the US presidential race, calling the Republican former president “tough” after the shooting at Trump’s Pennsylvania rally.
Musk posted on his social media platform X a video of Trump with blood on his face and pumping his fists, along with the message: “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
Politico reports that Texas Republican representative Ronny Jackson’s nephew was wounded in the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally.
“A bullet crossed his neck, and he was bleeding,” Jackson told Fox News, adding that his nephew had been seated behind Trump and was “in the line of fire”.
What we know about the Trump rally shooting
-
Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when loud noises were heard in the crowd around 6.13pm.
-
Trump appeared to have been struck by something in the area of his right ear as he was speaking, and videos show him quickly clutching his ear and then ducking down to the ground, as security agents and others leap to his aid.
-
One spectator was killed and at least two were injured.
-
Trump stood up with blood on the side of his face and appeared to be saying “fight, fight” while pumping his fist.
-
Trump was then quickly escorted from the stage and into his vehicle.
-
The rally location is now an active crime scene. The FBI has taken over the investigation.
-
Trump’s team and the Secret Service confirmed that he was “fine” and being checked at a local medical facility.
-
Trump later posted a statement on Truth Social, saying he was hit by a “bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear”. There are also reports that the former president was hit by shards of glass.
-
The Butler county district attorney confirmed that the suspected shooter and one rally attendee were dead. One person at the rally was in serious condition. The Secret Service later said two people were critically injured.
-
The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination.
-
The Secret Service shared more details on the shooter’s position and confirmed that the shooter was killed by the Secret Service. ABC News reported that law enforcement officials the suspect was perched on a rooftop and used an AR-style rifle.
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The president, Joe Biden, said “everybody must condemn political violence” in a speech shortly after the shooting. The White House later said the president and Trump had spoken. Biden is traveling back to the White House.
House speaker Mike Johnson vows ‘full investigation’ of shooting at Trump rally
Republican speaker of the House of Representatives and Donald Trump ally Mike Johnson says his chamber will “conduct a full investigation” of the shooting at the former president’s rally today.
Johnson said they will demand answers from the director of the Secret Service, along with officials at the FBI and homeland security department:
THE HOUSE WILL CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS TODAY.
The American people deserve to know the truth. We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 14, 2024
The Senate’s Democratic leaders have not yet said whether they will do the same, but at least one Republican, Josh Hawley, has called for an investigation in that chamber:
The Senate Homeland Security Committee must investigate this assassination attempt and attempted mass murder and get to the bottom of how it could have happened
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 14, 2024
Joe Biden also spoke to Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, and Bob Dandoy, mayor of Butler, where the shooting took place, the White House said.
Biden is scheduled to receive an update tomorrow morning “from homeland security and law enforcement officials”, according to the White House.
Biden spoke with Trump
Joe Biden has spoken with Donald Trump, Reuters reports.
The president said earlier in a brief speech that he was trying to reach his predecessor and challenger in the November general election, after he was injured following a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier today.
CBS News has heard from another witness to the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally who said he tried to alert police that someone was on the roof of a building before shots rang out:
FBI takes over investigation of shooting at Trump campaign rally
The FBI is now leading the investigation into the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
From a statement released by the bureau:
The FBI has assumed the role of the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation of the incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred earlier today in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Special agents of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office responded immediately, to include crisis response team members and evidence response technicians.
We will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI, alongside our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement. Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is asked to call our tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Joe Biden to return to White House following Trump rally shooting
Joe Biden will travel back to the White House this evening from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he had been expected to spend the weekend at his beach house.
The president will depart Rehoboth Beach in about 25 minutes, and arrive back at the White House at around 12.30am on Sunday, according to an updated schedule sent out by his press office.
The White House has not yet announced any further public events.
While serving as a Democratic representative in 2011, Gabrielle Giffords was the target of an attempted assassination that left her with life-altering injuries.
She was among those condemning political violence following the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally today:
Political violence is terrifying. I know.
I’m holding former President Trump, and all those affected by today’s indefensible act of violence in my heart. Political violence is un-American and is never acceptable—never.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) July 13, 2024
Trump will appear at Republican national convention as planned, campaign says
Donald Trump still plans to attend the Republican national convention in Milwaukee next week, where he is scheduled to be formally renominated as president, his campaign and the Republican National Committee said.
“As was communicated earlier this evening, President Trump is doing well and grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action,” Trump campaign senior advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita and Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump said.
“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States. As our party’s nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again.”
Homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said his department was “taking every possible measure” to ensure the safety of Donald Trump, Joe Biden and their campaigns after the shooting at the ex-president’s rally today:
We condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms and commend the Secret Service for their swift action today. We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.
— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) July 14, 2024
In May, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a majority of Americans were concerned that political violence could occur following the 5 November presidential rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Here’s more about the survey:
Two out of three Americans say they are concerned that political violence could follow the 5 November election rematch between Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor and challenger, Donald Trump, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
The survey of 3,934 US adults found widespread worries that the country could see a repeat of the unrest that followed Trump’s 2020 election defeat, when the then president’s false claim that his loss was the result of fraud prompted thousands of followers to storm the US Capitol.
Trump is once again laying the groundwork to contest the results should he lose to Biden a second time.
In an online poll, 68% of respondents – including 83% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans – said they agreed with a statement that they were concerned that extremists will resort to violence if they are unhappy with the election outcome.
Overall, 15% of respondents disagreed and 16% were unsure. In recent interviews, Trump has refused to commit to accepting the election results and at campaign rallies has portrayed Democrats as cheats.
Shooter opened fire on Trump from rooftop with AR-style rifle – report
ABC News reports that the person who opened fired on Donald Trump’s rally, killing one and injuring two in what law enforcement officials reportedly believe was an assassination attempt, was perched on a rooftop and used an AR-style rifle:
The shooter at the Trump rally fired as many as 8 rounds from an AR style rifle while perched on a rooftop adjacent to the venue, law enforcement sources told ABC News. The shooter was 200-300 yards away at the time of the gunfire, the sources said.
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) July 14, 2024
Here’s more on that sort of weapon:
