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Former President Donald Trump is confirmed safe after an apparent shooting at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump was addressing the crowd when the sound of gunshots interrupted the event.
Secret Service agents quickly secured Trump, who had blood near his right ear.
Trump was escorted off the stage and is being checked at a local medical facility.
The U.S. Secret Service has declared the incident an "active Secret Service investigation.
Trump Safe After Apparent Shooting Incident At Pennsylvania Rally teaser image
Former President Donald Trump is "fine" following an apparent shooting at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, his campaign confirmed.
"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."
According to the AP, a shooter and an attendee were killed.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming election, was addressing the crowd about border crossing numbers when the sound of gunshots disrupted the rally. Trump reached for his right ear, where blood appeared to be visible, before dropping behind the lectern. Secret Service agents quickly swarmed him as attendees screamed, and Trump was escorted off the stage.
The U.S. Secret Service stated that the incident is now an "active Secret Service investigation" and confirmed that "the former president is safe."
Footage from the event showed Trump, with blood near his right ear, fist-pumping at the crowd before leaving the stage. The rally, attended by several thousand people, was immediately declared a crime scene by local law enforcement, who began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after.
According to the White House, President Joe Biden, who was in Delaware at the time, has been briefed on the incident.
"I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well," said President Biden on a post on X. "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."
Former President Barak Obama wished 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. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery," said Obama in a statement on X.
Details about the shooter and the motive remain unclear as the investigation continues.
Kitco Media
Neils Christensen
