Trump Says He’s ‘Fine’ After Getting Shot at Rally, Gunman and Audience Member Dead
The former president’s face was bloodied after gunshots interrupted his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During a rally for Donald Trump's re-election campaign in Butler, Pennsylvania, the former president was abruptly escorted off the stage following gunshots.
A spokesman for the Secret Service said Trump is "fine" after he was rushed out of the area with blood on his ear and face. Video of the incident shows him holding his ear immediately after the pop was heard.
Screams can be heard from the crowd during the incident as agents swarmed Trump so he could take cover. When he emerged, the Republican candidate raised his fist and appeared to mouth the word "fight," riling up the crowd.
The shooter was later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Secret Service snipers fatally shot him while he was positioned on a nearby roof.
The man whose life Crooks took was Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old ex-chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company. Two other men were critically injured.
Soon after the incident, an "AR-style rifle" was recovered at the scene.
Barack Obama, Trump's predecessor, disavowed "political violence" in a post made to X.
According to a Biden campaign official, all outbound communications have been paused and his ads against his opponent will be pulled from television.
Trump eventually took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to address the incident. He confirms that he was shot by a bullet, which contradicts early conspiracies that the shooting was staged and that he was hit by glass. He says "much bleeding took place," which can be shown in the graphic photos.
