Former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was violently interrupted by gunfire on Saturday night, causing chaos and panic among attendees. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was addressing the crowd when shots rang out, leading to a dramatic series of events that left one rallygoer and the shooter dead, and another person seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 6:13 p.m. ET, just six minutes into Trump’s speech. As he was discussing border crossing numbers, popping sounds echoed through the venue. Trump instinctively reached for the side of his face, which appeared to be bleeding, before crouching down as Secret Service agents rushed the stage to shield him. Despite the visible blood on his head and ear, Trump briefly stood, raised a defiant fist, and urged the crowd to “fight, fight, fight” before being escorted to safety by his protective detail.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign spokesman, quickly reassured the public that the former president was unharmed and being evaluated at a local medical facility. “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” Cheung said. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
The Butler County District Attorney, Richard Goldinger, confirmed that the shooter and a rally attendee were dead. Another person was seriously injured and receiving medical treatment. Reports indicated that the shooter was neutralized by the Secret Service, who acted with remarkable speed and precision. An eyewitness at the rally recounted seeing a man with a rifle on a nearby roof, adding to the fear and confusion among the crowd. “The Secret Service blew his head off,” the witness said, highlighting the intensity of the situation.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence, emphasizing the need for national unity in his statement. “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening,” Biden stated. He expressed relief that Trump was safe and reiterated his gratitude to the Secret Service for their quick response. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Elon Musk, among other prominent figures, voiced his support for Trump, wishing him a swift recovery. “I will now fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk stated. Former President George W. Bush also extended his well-wishes and praised the Secret Service for their actions. “Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life,” Bush said. “And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response.”
The rally had begun with typical excitement and energy, as Trump energized his supporters by promising a victory in Pennsylvania. “With your help, we’re going to win Pennsylvania this November,” Trump declared. “We’re going to defeat Crooked Joe Biden and Laughing Kamala Harris, and we’re going to take back the White House, and we’re going to take back our country. We’re going to take it back. Our country has been stolen from us. You see that? One of the greatest crimes is what they’ve done over four years.” His speech was abruptly cut short by the sound of gunfire, turning the cheers of the crowd into screams of terror.
As the first shots were fired, Trump’s protective detail swiftly moved in to shield him, while the crowd panicked and ducked for cover. Reporters on the scene initially thought the sounds were fireworks before realizing the severity of the situation. Video footage showed a dead body, apparently of the rally attendee, being carried out of the venue, while armed law enforcement officers were seen on a roof near the stage. The venue was quickly evacuated, with chairs knocked over and yellow police tape surrounding the stage.
A doctor attending the rally recounted his desperate attempts to save one of the victims, describing the severity of the injuries. “I did CPR and saw brain matter,” he said, highlighting the gruesome nature of the attack. Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene, with one rally attendee recalling how people in the crowd were injured and carried away.
Following the incident, the FBI and Secret Service launched a thorough investigation. A Secret Service spokesperson confirmed in a statement that “the former President is safe” and that the incident was an active investigation. “This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” said agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.
Don Trump Jr. confirmed that his father remains in good spirits and determined to continue his campaign. “He is in good spirits as he remains under observation, and he is never gonna stop,” Trump Jr. said. Despite the traumatic experience, the former president’s resolve appeared unshaken.
In response to the incident, the Biden campaign announced it would suspend television ads out of respect for the situation. President Biden, who was in Delaware for the weekend, expressed his desire to speak with Trump later that day. “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” Biden’s statement read.