Donald Trump’s campaign says he is ‘fine’ after what authorities are treating as an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities said the man who opened fire was a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania.
In a social media post, Trump said he was “shot by a bullet that pierced the top of my right ear.” The former president was quickly removed from the stage by Secret Service agents, his ear covered in blood.
A prosecutor said the alleged shooter and at least one participant were dead, and the Secret Service said two spectators were seriously injured.
President Joe Biden and political leaders of all stripes condemned the attack. “There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”
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Two police officers told Associated Press investigators that the gun was purchased by the father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was identified as the shooter, at least six months ago.
Authorities said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Crooks obtained the gun and gather additional information about him as they try to identify a possible motive. The investigation is focused on Crooks. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
-Colleen Long and Mike Balsamo
In the memo obtained by The Associated Press, Trump’s top campaign advisers thanked the Secret Service and all first responders for their efforts.
The memo also said employees in Washington and West Palm Beach, Fla., should stay away from the office while they evaluate those locations. The memo also says they are increasing the armed security presence at the location.
“Our highest priority is to keep all of you on this team safe,” the memo reads.
The memo also tells employees not to comment publicly on the apparent assassination attempt on Trump and that dangerous rhetoric on social media will not be tolerated.
The convention begins Monday in Milwaukee.
“I truly love our country and I love you all, and I look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week in Wisconsin,” he said in his social media post Sunday morning.
In the post on his social network, former President Donald Trump also thanked “everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was only God who prevented the unthinkable from happening”.
“WE WILL NOT, but instead we will remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Evil,” he said.
Trump also said, “Our love goes out to the other victims and their families” and said he is praying “for the recovery of those who were injured and we hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”
“At this time, it is more important than ever that we stand together and show our true character as Americans by remaining strong and determined and not allowing evil to win,” he adds.
The FBI on Sunday morning named Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the shooter in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The agency said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The bandits’ political leanings were not immediately clear. Records show Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show he donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden took office.
Former President Donald Trump’s private jet landed shortly after midnight Sunday at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Video posted by an advisor showed him disembarking flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counterattack team, an unusually visible show of force by his protection team.
Trump planned to spend the night at his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden arrived at the White House on Sunday morning after cutting short a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
The White House said it would receive a briefing from Homeland Security and law enforcement about the attempted assassination of Trump later in the morning.
Vice President Kamala Harris would also attend.
The officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been released publicly.
-Mike Balsamo
