Former President Donald Trump on Sunday morning urged his supporters to remain "strong and determined" and suggested he still plans to speak at the Republican National Convention this week after an assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania wounded the former president, left one attendee dead and critically injured two others.
Former president Donald Trump raises his arm with blood on his face during a campaign rally at ... [+]
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called for unity and said he looked forward to "speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin," where thousands of Republicans are planning to gather for their party's convention starting Monday to formally nominate Trump and his yet-to-be-announced running mate as the Republican presidential ticket.
Trump senior advisers sent a memo to staff shortly after the shooting indicating the convention will continue as planned with the exception of new security measures implemented for staff, Politico reported.
The post from Trump on Sunday morning was one of two he's made since authorities said Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire from outside Trump's Saturday campaign rally.
Trump said he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear" and thanked the "rapid response" of the Secret Service and local law enforcement.
The rally attendee who was killed has not been identified, nor have the two people who were seriously injured.
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“We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday. “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
Gunshots interrupted Trump's Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania shortly after it began. In video from the event, several popping sounds can be heard before Trump is seen diving below the podium on stage and Secret Service agents rush to cover him. Trump then rose surrounded by agents with the right side of his face covered in blood. He pumped his fist into the air several times while being escorted off stage. A Secret Service spokesperson tweeted shortly after that Trump was safe and being medically evaluated, adding later that one person was killed and two more were hurt. The shooter, who authorities later identified as Crooks, was killed by the Secret Service, the Associated Press reported, and an AR-style rifle was recovered at the scene. The shooter was on a building outside of the rally "several hundred yards away," local District Attorney Richard Goldinger told CNN. President Joe Biden said in a statement he is "grateful" to hear Trump was safe and said there was "no place for this kind of violence in America.” Former president Barack Obama said "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." Gabby Giffords, a Democratic former U.S. Representative who almost died after an attempted assassination in 2012, said "political violence is un-American and is never acceptable."
Trump is expected to formally accept the Republican nomination Thursday night and his campaign on Saturday announced a number of other speakers including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and vice presidential contenders Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Several Trump supporters seemed to blame the Biden campaign for the shooting. Vance tweeted "the "central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination." Chris LaCivita, a Trump campaign adviser, posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, “well of course they tried too keep him off the ballot , they tried to put him in jail and now you see this …,” the Associated Press reported. The post has since been deleted. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) tweeted "Joe Biden sent the orders."
Trump Assassination Attempt: Here’s What We Know (Forbes)
Trump staff memo says convention will go on as planned, new security will be implemented for staff (Politico)
Trump rally shooting live updates: FBI identifies suspect in apparent assassination attempt (Associated Press)
Trump safe, two dead after assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally (CNN)