Former US President Donald Trump escaped a failed assassination attempt, a fact that has shocked American society. The incident happened during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was addressing his supporters. His adviser, Dan Scavino Jr., described in a post on X how Trump was saved by a simple movement of his head towards a large screen (jumbotron), thus avoiding the bullets.
“Thank God last night was a rally where President Trump wanted to use and address the jumbotron, causing him to shake his head slightly as shots rang out. He is grateful for all the prayers, love and support out there as he prepares for the conference in Wisconsin!” Scavino wrote.
For his part, Trump expressed his eagerness to speak at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, underscoring the importance of American unity and determination. “Right now, it’s more important than ever that we stand together and show our true character as Americans by staying strong and determined,” he told the Truth Social platform.
The assassination attempt occurred Saturday during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, where the former president wore his signature “Make America Great Again” hat. The shots rang out at 6:08 p.m. (local time), with Trump reacting immediately, putting his hand over his right ear and ducking behind the podium as Secret Service agents rushed to protect him.
The FBI confirmed it was an attempted murder and identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The attacker, armed with an AR15 semi-automatic rifle, fired from an elevated position outside the perimeter of the gathering before being subdued by authorities.
According to the police, one attendee of the pre-election rally was killed and two others were seriously injured, all male adults. Many eyewitnesses reported that they had seen the assailant before the attack and had informed the authorities, who, however, were unable to prevent the attack.
After the incident, Trump made his first statement on Truth Social at 8:42 p.m. (local time), saying he was hit by a bullet that went through his right ear. He described his experience, saying: “I immediately felt that something was wrong because I heard a whistle, gunshots and immediately I felt the bullet tearing through my skin.”
The White House was informed of the incident at 6:50 p.m., and President Joe Biden condemned the violence, saying “there is no place for this kind of violence in America.” Biden later contacted Trump and said he was returning to Washington.
After the medical treatment he received, Trump returned to New Jersey without assistance, showing his determination to continue his campaign and remain strong despite the attempt against him.
