President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on July 14, 2024, about the assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

A Breakdown of the Assassination Attempt Against Trump

(Illustration by The Epoch Times, AP Photos, Shutterstock, Google Earth)

Eva Fu

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Former President Donald Trump was hustled off the stage with a bloodied face after a bullet pierced his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Authorities are now investigating what they’ve called an assassination attempt.

The attack marked the first shooting of a U.S. president or presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981.

Here’s a timeline of what happened at the shooting that led to the death of one rally-goer, with two more sustaining serious injuries.

6:02 p.m. —Trump Takes the Stage

Former President Trump takes to the stage to the tune of “God Bless the USA,” waving to the crowd under the scorching sun.

6:09 p.m.—Onlookers Notice Gunman on Roof

About two minutes before the first shot rings out, onlookers outside the rally are caught on video pointing out the shooter to law enforcement.

“Look, they’re all pointing,” one says.

“Yeah, someone’s on top of the roof,” another says.

The video zooms in on the shooter: “Yeah, he’s right there, you see him? He’s laying down; you see him?”

“Officer!” one shouts.

“He’s on the roof!” one woman says, sounding exasperated. “Right here, right on the roof.”

6:11:18 p.m. —Trump Speaks

In the final moments before the shooting, President Trump talks about illegal immigration, referencing stats displayed on two jumbotrons that show it was lower during his tenure.

Moments Before the Shooting: Police Officer Approaches Rooftop

Just before the shooting, a police officer with Butler Township attempts to approach the shooter by climbing onto the roof where he had positioned himself.

As the officer grabs onto the roof’s ledge to get on the roof, the shooter turns and aims his gun in the officer’s direction.

At this point, the officer lets go of the ledge, retreats, and reports the threat via radio. The shooter then opens fire on the rally below.

6:11:32 p.m. —Shots Fired

Former President Trump continues speaking about illegal immigration, and begins to say, “If you wanna see something really sad, look what happened over ...”

At this point, the first shot can be heard on camera. Six more shots also ring out in quick succession after the first.

Just milliseconds before, the former president had cocked his head slightly to the right.

6:11:33 p.m. —Trump Grabs Ear

Immediately after the shot rings out, former President Trump stops speaking and quickly grabs at his right ear.

Pulling his hand away, he then quickly drops to the ground behind his podium. The entire crowd behind him reacts just as quickly, also falling into a crouch behind the stage.

At the same moment, video footage appears to show a Secret Service sniper positioned on a rooftop behind the stage taking a shot in the direction of the shooter. In the moment before taking the shot, the Secret Service sniper can be seen looking into his scope to line up a shot.

Shouts begin to ring out from attendees.

Moments later, a Secret Service agent can be heard shouting, “Get down, get down!”

6:11:36 p.m. —Secret Service Comes Onstage

Former President Trump’s personal escort of Secret Service agents immediately bounds onstage as soon as it became obvious that something is wrong.

At this point, at least seven Secret Service agents swarm the former president, falling on top of him to cover his body from further shots.

“What’re we doing, what’re we doing?” one female agent can be heard saying. “Where are we going?”

6:12:32 p.m. —Trump Gets Up

For nearly a full minute, former President Trump remains prone on the stage, his body covered by Secret Service agents.

Two Secret Service personnel carrying semi-automatic military grade rifles take to the stage, scanning the crowd as Secret Service agents try to determine their next move.

Several agents can be heard shouting, “Shooter down.”

“Shooter down, are we good to move?” a female agent asks.

“Shooter’s down,” a male agent replies. “We’re good to move.”

At this point, former President Trump begins to slowly stand up, still largely covered by agents. His shirt and hair are disheveled, and a stream of blood runs down the right side of his face.

As he stands up, agents continue to shield his body from view.

6:12:47 p.m. —‘Fight, Fight, Fight!’

As former President Trump stands up, he can be heard telling agents, “Let me get my shoes.”

Moments later, he says, “Wait, wait, wait.”

The former president at this point raises his fist to the crowd and says, “Fight, fight, fight!”

6:12:55 p.m. —Trump Escorted Out

With most of his body still shielded by agents, former President Trump is carefully escorted off stage, continuing to pump his fist for the crowd.

He is taken by agents to an armored vehicle.

6:14 p.m. —Trump’s Motorcade Leaves

The former president’s motorcade departs the rally venue.

6:42 p.m. —Secret Service Confirms ‘Incident’ at Trump Rally

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi writes on X that “an incident” has happened at the rally and that former President Trump “is safe.”

6:51 p.m. —Trump Said to Be at Medical Facility

The Trump campaign says the former president “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”

7:49 p.m. —Secret Service Confirms Shooter Dead

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi releases a statement saying that the suspected shooter had fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the rally venue. Secret Service agents had “neutralized the shooter,” who was now deceased. The statement also says that one spectator was killed and two spectators seriously injured.

8:13 p.m. —Biden Condemns Shooting

President Joe Biden speaks on camera from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, saying that he had been “thoroughly briefed by all the agencies in the federal government” on the shooting.

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick, it’s sick,” President Biden says from the emergency briefing room.

8:42 p.m. —Trump Confirms Ear Wound

Former President Trump confirms that a bullet pierced his right ear, in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social.

He also thanks the Secret Service, and all of law enforcement “for their rapid response to the shooting” and expresses condolences to the family of the person who was fatally shot and another he had heard had been seriously injured.

9:40 p.m. —Trump Will Attend Republican National Convention

The Trump Campaign and the Republican National Convention confirm in a statement that the former president is “doing well” and will appear in person at the Republican National Convention, set to kick off in two days in Milwaukee, on Monday, July 15.

10:30 p.m. —Biden Speaks With Trump

The White House confirms that President Biden has spoken with former President Donald Trump.

11:45 p.m. —FBI Calls Shooting an Assassination Attempt

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, holds a news conference calling the shooting an assassination attempt. He also says that investigators are working to identify a motive for the attempted assassination.

The FBI confirms that two adult men are in critical condition, while a third has died.

12:37 a.m. —Trump Lands in New Jersey

President Trump’s private jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport. A video shared by his deputy director of communications, Margo Martin, shows the former president walking unassisted down the airstair of his plane.

“Strong and resilient. He will never stop fighting for America,” Ms. Martin writes on X.

1:35 a.m. —FBI Names Gunman

The FBI identifies 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

Correction: The position of the sniper who shot and killed the shooter has been updated in the featured image based on new information.

FBI Believes Trump Shooter Acted Alone, Investigating Attack as Act of Domestic Terrorism

State and local police block off roads surrounding the home of the suspected shooter of former President Donald Trump, as the FBI carries out an investigation, in Bethel Park, Pa., on July 14, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images) Joseph Lord

Joseph Lord

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FBI officials say they believe the would-be assassin of former President Donald Trump acted alone.

The agency is investigating the attack as both an attempted assassination and an act of domestic terrorism, officials told reporters in a call with news media on July 14.

The new details emerged less than 24 hours after the United States saw its first major assassination attempt of a president or presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

Authorities have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. At a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, the assailant fired several shots from an elevated position near the venue. Witnesses saw a man with a rifle on the rooftop of a nearby building.

Former President Trump’s right ear was pierced by one of the bullets before he was rushed to his car by Secret Service agents. However, one of the attendees at the rally, 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore, was killed. Two other rally attendees—identified by Pennsylvania State Police as David Dutch and James Copenhaver—were injured.

Both of the injured attendees are in stable condition, according to Pennsylvania State Police, which did not provide further details on their injuries. A GoFundMe effort established by the Trump campaign for the victims and their families had raised more than $3 million as of the evening of July 14.

FBI Investigation

The FBI has not yet identified a motive. The assailant’s family is cooperating in the investigation, officials said.

Attorney General Merrick Garland called the assassination attempt on the former president “an attack on our democracy itself.”

“[The Justice Department has] no tolerance for such violence, and as Americans, we must have no tolerance for it,” Mr. Garland told reporters. “This must stop.”

The agency said a “suspicious device” was located during a sweep of Mr. Crooks’s car. It was later defused by bomb technicians.

FBI Director Christopher Wray vowed that his agency would “leave no stone unturned” in its investigation of the attack.

“An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate can only be described as absolutely despicable and will not be tolerated in this country,” Mr. Wray told reporters.

Earlier on July 14, President Joe Biden said he asked that the investigation be “thorough and swift.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies about the bureau’s budgetary needs during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in Washington on June 4, 2024. (Allison Bailey/Middle East Images via AFP via Getty Images)

Prior to the attack, officials said, the perpetrator wasn’t on the FBI’s radar as a potential threat.

The FBI’s screening of the shooter’s social media presence has so far revealed no ideology or political beliefs that could have been his basis for the attack, officials said.

The FBI has received more than 2,000 tips so far, they said.

Officials believe that the rifle used in the attack was a semi-automatic rifle similar to an AR-15.

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, told reporters that the weapon belonged to the shooter’s father, who purchased it legally. It’s still unclear how Mr. Crooks got his hands on the rifle, or if his father was aware that he had taken it.

“These are facts that we’ll flesh out as we conduct interviews,” Mr. Rojek said.

Independent Review

President Biden said that he has directed an independent review of the security present at the rally.

Speaking from the White House, President Biden said the assassination attempt was “contrary to everything we stand for as a nation.”

“It’s not who we are as a nation, it’s not America, and we cannot allow this to happen,” he said.

The president said that he had a “short but good conversation” with former President Trump on the evening of July 13.

The former president, meanwhile, was due to arrive in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention on July 14, as originally planned. He said in a social media post that he had wanted to delay the travel in the immediate aftermath of the attack, but ultimately decided against it.

Secret Service officials confirmed on July 14 that no changes have been made to security at the convention, which starts on July 15, noting that the event has already been given the highest-grade security.

“Currently, there are no known articulated threats against the RNC or anyone visiting the RNC,” Michael Hensle, special agent in charge of the FBI for Wisconsin, said at a news conference.

The Secret Service has refuted claims that the 45th president’s security team requested additional security for the July 13 event and was denied.

“This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote in a July 14 post on X.

Former President Trump, in a statement on July 14, thanked his supporters, saying of the attack that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”

The former president made a call for unity, saying, “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans.”

Former First Lady Melania Trump, in her own statement, called on Americans to “ascend above the hate” and “simple-minded ideas that incite violence.”

“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” Ms. Trump wrote.

She said that she was “grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives.”

Over on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are vowing their own investigations into the matter.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Congress will probe if there were security lapses at the rally.

“We need to know: How could an individual be at that elevation that was seen by apparently bystanders on the ground—how could that not be noticed by Secret Service?” Mr. Johnson told NBC’s “Today” on July 14.

In a July 14 letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) revealed several pieces of information, including the security plan that was in place on the day of the shooting. The Secret Service falls under the umbrella of DHS.

A DHS spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter.

“DHS responds to congressional inquiries directly via official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Man Killed in Trump Assassination Attempt Identified as Corey Comperatore, Governor Says

Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pa., July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)

Jack Phillips

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The man who was slain at a rally held by former President Donald Trump was identified by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Sunday as Corey Comperatore.

In a news conference, the governor said that Mr. Comperatore was shot as he “dove on his family to protect them last night at this rally,” Mr. Shapiro said during the press conference, citing what the victim’s wife told his office. The governor said that Mr. Comperatore “was the very best of us” and added that he hopes “his memory is a blessing.”

Later Sunday, the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed the identities of the injured victims as 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, and 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington. They are currently in stable condition.

The former president and law enforcement officials said that a bullet pierced his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night. His campaign confirmed that he is fine.

The FBI special agent for Pittsburgh, Kevin P. Rojek, said Saturday that two other people were shot in what he describe as an assassination attempt targeting the 45th president. The shooting suspect was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who was killed by U.S. Secret Service agents.

“Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community, and most especially Corey loves his family. Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community,” the governor said.

Earlier in the day, a person who identified herself as the sister of Mr. Comperatore wrote on social media that the victim “was a hero that shielded his daughters,” adding that his family “just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable.”

Also in Sunday’s news conference, Mr. Shapiro said that “political disagreements can never, ever be addressed through violence ... we need to use a peaceful political process to settle those differences responsibly to speak and act with moral clarity.”

He urged others “to take down the temperature and rise above the hateful rhetoric,” adding that while Democrats and Republicans may disagree with one another, “above all else we are Americans.”

“We have to address those divisions through engagement and the civil process,” the governor added.

A similar refrain was offered by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who told NBC News on Sunday that “we’re all Americans and we have to treat one another with dignity and respect.”

“We can have heated political discourse and debates, but it shouldn’t be personal, and we shouldn’t be targeting people,” the house speaker added.

The attack was the first shooting of a U.S. president or major presidential party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of Republican President Ronald Reagan. It will roil the presidential campaign less than four months before the presidential election, and it may alter the security situation around the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee.

Organizers, including Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, said the convention would proceed as planned.

The former president, who confirmed Sunday that he will attend the convention, called for unity after the assassination attempt while thanking people for their “thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”

“We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that his ”love goes out to the other victims and their families” and for the recovery of those who were injured.

Responding to the victim’s death, he called on Americans to “hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed,” according to his post.

As for President Joe Biden, who is running against former President Trump, he confirmed he was briefed on the attack and spoke to the former president hours after the shooting. The president is scheduled to hold a news conference later Sunday.

“There’s no place in America for this type of violence,” the president told reporters in Delaware. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”

Melania Trump Issues Statement After Assassination Attempt on Husband

Former First Lady Melania Trump at her Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 15, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Jack Phillips

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Former First Lady Melania Trump on Sunday issued a statement on the assassination attempt targeting her husband, former President Donald Trump, and offered her sympathy to the other victims who were shot during the incident.

In a lengthy statement posted to social media, Mrs. Trump wrote that “when I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” adding she is “grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives.”

The former first lady, who has been largely out of the public eye during former President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, called on Americans to “ascend above the hate” and “simple-minded ideas that incite violence.”

At a rally on Saturday evening in Pennsylvania, a shooter opened fire from about 400 feet away as former President Trump was speaking. In a later statement, the former president said that a bullet pierced his right ear.

The U.S. Secret Service, who confirmed it killed the suspect, said that one other victim died and two others were seriously injured. The identities of those victims were not named.

“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion—his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,” Mrs. Trump said in her statement. “The core facets of my husband’s life—his human side—were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.”

Mrs. Trump also thanked people who reached out to her family “for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.”

“We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends. We can realize this world again,” her statement said. “Each of us demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again.”

She added: “Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment—until death—is at serious risk.”

The FBI identified the suspect as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement officials have not publicly identified a motive for the shooting, and the FBI said that it is continuing to investigate.

In several statements, the former president and the Republican National Committee confirmed that he will attend the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, which starts July 15.

Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, told Fox News Sunday that he is working with the Secret Service and “40 different law enforcement agencies” to provide security for the RNC.

The former president is scheduled to receive the Republican Party nomination during the event, which will end on Thursday.

Other Trump family members have released statements in the wake of the assassination attempt. Ivanka Trump, the former president’s daughter, wrote on social media that she is also “grateful to the Secret Service” for their quick response and is “pray[ing] for our country.”

His oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted an image of his father with his arm raised after the shooting. “He'll never stop fighting to Save America,” he wrote on social media. His second oldest son, Eric Trump, made a similar comment and posted the same image, writing that his father is “the fighter America needs.”

President Joe Biden and a number of both Republican and Democrat politicians condemned the shooting, while some called on members of both political parties to curb any incendiary political rhetoric. “There is no place for this kind of violence in America. It’s sick,” he told reporters Saturday in an emergency briefing in Delaware.

Saturday’s attack was the first major assassination attempt targeting a current or former president since President Ronald Reagan was shot and injured in 1981 in Washington.

US Secret Service Rejects Claims Trump Requested Additional Security and Was Denied

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)

Jack Phillips

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The U.S. Secret Service on Sunday refuted claims that former President Donald Trump’s security team requested additional security and was denied during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania where a shooter opened fire at the former president on Saturday evening.

A statement from U.S. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that such claims are “absolutely false” for a multitude of reasons, responding to assertions made on social media about the incident. He did not go into specifics about the claims or who made them.

“There’s an untrue assertion that a member of the former President’s team requested additional security resources & that those were rebuffed. This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” Mr. Guglielmi wrote in a post on X.

An FBI special agent also pushed back on those claims on Saturday during a news conference. “There was no additional request for security that was ever denied by the FBI,” Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh-area office, told reporters.

At least one lawmaker, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.),  a member of the House Intelligence Committee, has publicly stated on social media that former President Trump’s team made a request for more security but was denied.

The Epoch Times contacted Mr. Waltz’s office and the Secret Service for additional comment.

Several top House Republicans immediately pledged investigations into the matter. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) quickly said he would be requesting Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify in front of his panel.

The FBI and the Secret Service said the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire from a distance of about 400 feet away before he was shot and killed by the Secret Service.

“The tremendous bravery of the individual United States Secret Service agents who protected President Trump, eliminated the gunman, and possibly averted more loss of life cannot be overstated,” Mr. Comer said in a letter to Ms. Cheatle on Saturday night.

In a statement, the Republican-controlled House Homeland Security Committee also said that it has been in contact with the Secret Service, requesting a briefing on the matter.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wrote on X that the House would “conduct a full investigation” into the assassination attempt, writing that Ms. Cheatle and other officials will be appearing in front of committees in the near future.

“Shortly after the attempt on President Trump’s life, the Committee was in contact with the United States Secret Service and immediately requested an official briefing for our members,” it said. “The Committee is grateful for the bravery and quick response of the Secret Service agents, and will be conducting thorough oversight to ensure the American people receive answers.”

The former president, in a statement on social media, praised the Secret Service and law enforcement for their response.

“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” he wrote hours after the incident on his Truth Social platform. “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.”

In that post, former President Trump said that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced” part of his right ear,“ adding that he heard ”a whizzing sound“ and shots before feeling the round ”ripping through the skin.”

He added, “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

Video footage from the rally showed the former president speaking behind the podium before loud pops were heard, causing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to drop to the ground. Secret Service agents immediately jumped in front of former President Trump, who was later seen getting up with blood streaked across his face.

The former president released a new statement on Sunday, confirming he would attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.

FBI Identifies Shooter in Trump Assassination Attempt

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Sam Dorman

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during his rally on July 13.

The identification was made the morning of July 14. During a press conference just hours prior, the agency had declined to identify the suspect and his motive, but said the former president was the target of an assassination attempt.

“This evening we had what we’re calling an assassination attempt against our former President Donald Trump,” Kevin Rojek, who serves as Special Agent in Charge at the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, said during the press conference.

Mr. Rojek had declined identifying the suspect at that time, stating that the agency was close to confirming identification with a DNA test. “As soon as we are 100 percent confident in who that individual is, we will share it with the press,” he said.

He added that the agency did not have an “identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to identify what that motive was.”

Authorities said three adult men other than the president were victimized, including one who was killed and two who were critically injured. The shooter was killed at the scene.

Mr. Rojek was joined by Colonel Christopher Paris of the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col George Bivens. The U.S. Secret Service, Mr. Rojek said, was not available for the press conference.

Mr. Rojek, who spoke first, requested the public’s assistance and directed the audience to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/butler.

Secret Service

Questions remained after the press conference as authorities referred many of the questions they received to the U.S. Secret Service, which Mr. Bivens said takes the lead on security for events like the rally that took place on July 13.

According to Mr. Rojek, the shooter was on top of a building that was outside of the Secret Service’s security perimeter. When asked why that was the case, he responded: “The Secret Service really needs to answer that question. They conduct the initial site survey. They do the initial security assessments and determine where the different security locations should be.”

The FBI has said it will be leading the federal investigation into the shooting. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said state authorities will investigate the incident as it relates to the other victims.

“I would just like to say that the state police have been in regular contact with the governor’s office and the full support and assets of the entire agency are behind the FBI and our other federal and municipal partners to assist with this investigation ... We are prepared to support this investigation in any way shape or form,” Mr. Paris said.

Mr. Rojek and Mr. Bivans indicated that investigators had a long road ahead of them.

“There’s going to be a long investigation into exactly what took place and how the individual was able to get access to the location, what type of weapon he had—all that is really days, weeks, and months of investigation,” Mr. Rojek said.

“It is surprising,” he added, when asked whether it was surprising how many shots the shooters was able to fire.

Mr. Bivans said, “We have no reason to believe that there is any other existing threat out there.” He declined to say whether this was a lone wolf attack.

Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi issued a statement that read, in part: “U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated ... The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

Members of Congress like House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) responded to the incident by calling for investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Republicans and Democrats Condemn Attack on Trump at Rally

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Sam Dorman

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Leading politicians on both sides of the aisle quickly responded to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his July 13 rally in Pennsylvania, which injured the former president and left one rally attendee dead and two others seriously injured.

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick, it’s sick,” President Joe Biden said on July 13 from the emergency briefing room in Rehoboth, Delaware.

“It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

The office of Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement saying she had received “an initial briefing on the incident.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was shot and critically injured at a congressional baseball practice in 2017, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “there is never any place for political violence.”

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) called on followers on X to pray for the former president.

“Today is not just some isolated incident,” he said in a later post.

Mr. Vance blamed the “attempted assassination” on “campaign rhetoric.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)—whose husband, Paul Pelosi, was the victim of a politically motivated attack in October 2022—expressed gratitude for the former president’s safety.

“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,” Ms. Pelosi wrote on social media.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reacted with shock and concern to the incident.

“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,” Mr. Schumer wrote on social media.

‘No Place for Political Violence’

The statements poured in after footage surfaced showing the former president with what appeared to be blood on his face and ear. Video footage shows the former president and presumptive GOP nominee ducking after a bullet apparently grazed his right ear after audible gunshots.

Former President Trump was speaking and showing off a chart with border-crossing numbers when the popping of several gunshots sounded through the crowd and he was seen reaching toward his right ear.

A Secret Service counter-sniper fatally shot the suspect.

In a statement on X, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said: “The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”

House Oversight ranking Democratic member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) posted on X that “political violence is categorically intolerable in American democracy.”

“We all hope former President Trump is safe and that no one else was injured,” he said. “We are grateful for the law enforcement response and hope they get to the bottom of this horrifying attack and how it happened.”

Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush both released statements condemning political violence.

“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” former President Obama said in a statement on X. “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.”

A statement from the George W. Bush Presidential Center reads: “Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response.”

Entrepreneur and X owner Elon Musk posted after the incident, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence was one of many calling for prayers.

Other Republicans commented as well.

“This was obviously more than an assassination attempt; it was also an attempt on our party to take down our nominee, you know, it’s party oriented,” Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who challenged former President Trump in Republican primaries, condemned political violence and expressed concern for the former president and others at the rally.

“This should horrify every freedom loving American,” Ms. Haley wrote on social media. “Violence against presidential candidates must never be normalized. We are lifting up Donald Trump, the entire Trump family, and all in attendance in prayer.”

Mark Tapscott and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Biden Speaks With Trump After Assassination Attempt, Condemns Violence

President Joe Biden speaks after his Republican opponent Donald Trump was injured following a shooting at an election rally in Pennsylvania, at the Rehoboth Beach Police Department Delaware on July 13, 2024. (SAMUEL CORUM/AFP)

Emel Akan

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The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden spoke with former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening. The conversation took place after the former president was shot and injured during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Before the phone call, President Biden also delivered remarks condemning the violence and urging Americans to unite against it.

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick, it’s sick,” President Biden said from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

“It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” he said. “We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

President Biden was asked if this was an assassination attempt against the former president.

“I have an opinion but I don’t have any facts. So I want to make sure we have all the facts before I make some comments,” he said.

The president also spoke to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy, according to the White House.

After his speech, President Biden returned to Washington from Rehoboth earlier than planned. Initially, the president intended to spend the weekend at his beach house.

Former President Trump was minutes into his speech in front of a crowd of thousands of people when several gunshots interrupted the event. The former president grabbed his right ear and dropped behind his podium before Secret Service agents quickly ran up to cover him.

Former President Trump confirmed in a Truth Social post that “a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.” The person who allegedly shot him is dead, according to the Butler County district attorney.

A rallygoer was also killed in the attack, according to the district attorney’s office. Two more supporters of the former president have sustained critical injuries, the FBI confirmed.

According to media reports, the Biden campaign has paused all outbound communications and has planned to pull down its television ads.

Before his speech, President Biden also released a statement, condemning the attack.

“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.  I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well,” the president said nearly two hours after the incident.

“I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”

“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,” he said.

According to the White House, people who briefed the president after the shooting included Kimberly Cheatle, director of the United States Secretary Service; Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas; and Liz Sherwood-Randall, assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor.

Former President Barack Obama also released a statement condemning the attack.

“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” former President Obama said in a statement on X. “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.”

Video: The Moment Shots Were Fired at Trump Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surround by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Epoch Video

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Former President Donald Trump was minutes into his speech in front of a crowd of tens of thousands of people in Butler, Pennsylvania, when what sounded like several gunshots interrupted the event. The former president grabbed his right ear and dropped behind his podium before Secret Service agents quickly gathered around him.

 

BUTLER, Pa.—Former President Trump is safe with a minor injury after an attack during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The person who allegedly shot him is dead, according to the Butler County district attorney.

Law enforcement officials said that Trump appeared to be the target of an assassination, the Associated Press reported.

A rallygoer was also killed in the attack, according to the district attorney’s office. The Epoch Times has contacted the district attorney’s office for more information. Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told CNN that another rallygoer is in serious condition.

Former President Trump was minutes into his speech in front of a crowd of thousands when gunshots interrupted the event. The former president winced, grabbed his right ear, and ducked down as Secret Service agents swarmed in to shield him on the floor near the podium.

Several more shots rang out while the president was down. Moments later, back on his feet, surrounded by Secret Service agents, and blood running down his face, the president pumped his fist three times toward the crowd.

Former President Trump then walked down from the stage surrounded by agents.

“The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” the Secret Service said in a statement.

The Secret Service killed the assailant, who had targeted the former president from outside the security perimeter. Several rally attendees told The Epoch Times and NTD that the shooter was atop a nearby barn. An eyewitness who spoke to BBC also said the shooter was atop a building.

The apparent assassination attempt is the first such attack on a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1981. The attack occurred just two days before the GOP convention, where the former president is expected to be formally nominated as the Republican Party presidential nominee in the 2024 election.

“The entire crowd just went down. Everybody was covering themselves, just trying to stay safe,” one observer told NTD immediately after the incident.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m. ET, a medical helicopter landed near the site of the rally. The Trump campaign said the former president “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”

“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung.

“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania,” President Biden said in a statement about two hours after the incident.

“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,” he said.

President Biden also expressed his gratitude to the Secret Service.

“There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” he added.

Vice President Kamala Harris similarly said that she’s relieved to hear he’s “not seriously injured.”

“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she said in a statement.

“Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the violence and said he has been briefed on the situation. He said state police “are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local partners.”

Mike Boatman, a part of the group known as the Front Row Joes, has attended 94 rallies for the former president. He said he was in the center of the front row and to his left heard the pop-pop-pop of shots.

He was stunned to see former President Trump clutch his right ear and disappear behind the lectern where he’d been speaking.

He heard another volley of shots.

“I would have rather they shot me than him,” Mr. Boatman, of Evansville, Indiana, told The Epoch Times. “He’s the only guy who can save this country.”

“Unbelievable. They’ve tried everything to keep him from being the president again. They tried everything. … Now they’re trying to assassinate him.

Reactions Pour In

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was one of the first Democrats to react to the incident.

“Violence has NO place in our democracy. My thoughts are with President Trump and everyone impacted at the rally today,” he wrote in a post on X.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a possible vice presidential pick, wrote on X, “God protected President Trump”

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, wrote, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also responded with a post on X: “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable.I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote a message on X, “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.”

Former President Barack Obama also weighed in and wished former President Trump “a quick recovery.”

“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,” the former president wrote on X.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he is “horrified by this apparent assassination attempt,” in a post on X.

“Grateful for the swift response by law enforcement and Secret Service. Wishing President Trump a swift recovery.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence shared his reaction on X: “Karen and I are praying for President Trump and urge every American to join us.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.