13-July-2024″ Aljazeera Trump rally erupts in gunfire, former president safe, officials say
Former United States President and Republican candidate Donald Trump has been escorted off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
Donald Trump was safe, the U.S. Secret Service and his campaign said on Saturday after multiple shots rang out at a rally by the Republican presidential candidate in Pennsylvania as video showed Trump grimacing and raising a hand to his right ear.
The former president had just started his speech when gunshots erupted and Trump and other rally attendees hit the deck.
Secret Service agents swarmed around him and live video showed blood on the right side of Trump’s face and ear
Trump repeatedly raised his fist in the air, with an American flag visible behind him, as security ushered him away.
“The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former president is safe,” a spokesperson for the agency said on X after what it called an incident. “This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
CNN reported that Trump was injured, but gave no other details. It was not clear how or what injuries he may have sustained.
Trump escorted off stage
What Trump’s possible VP picks have said
Trump is set to announce his pick to for vice president at the Republican National Convention next week. Here is what some of his possible running mates have said on social media about the incident in Pennsylvania.
Shooter, rally attendee dead: Butler County District Attorney to AP
The Butler County District Attorney has told the Associated Press news agency that the shooter and another person are dead following the incident.
We’ll bring you more details as we get them.
They’ve tried to kill him,’ says Republican congressman
Greg Steube, who represents a Florida district, has attempted to draw a link between Trump’s legal troubles and the incident at the rally in Pennsylvania.
“They tried to jail him and now they’ve tried to kill him,” he said in a post on X. “This is a sad, sad day for our country. Praying for President Trump, his family, and everyone in Pennsylvania affected by today’s senseless violence.”
Trump is facing four sets of criminal charges, including over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In May, a jury in New York found him guilty of falsifying business records in relation to a hush money payment made to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 polls
Trump’s son posts picture of father following incident
The former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, wrote in a post on X: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”
That accompanied a photo of Trump with his fist in the air and two streaks of blood across his face following the incident.
Campaign says Trump is ‘fine’
Trump’s campaign has released a statement saying he is “fine” and being assessed at a medical facility.
The former president appeared to be bleeding from his ear as he was taken off stage.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.