Donald Trump appeared to be the target of an assassination attempt at a rallySecret Service agents surrounded Trump after multiple shots were fired while he was speakingTrump said on social media that a bullet pierced his upper right earPolice said Secret Service agents had killed the shooterTrump’s campaign team said he was “fine”; the Secret Service said he was safe
Donald Trump raises a fist to the crowd as Secret Service agents try to bundle him into a waiting vehicle.Credit: AP
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
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11.02am
One spectator killed and two critical: Secret ServiceBy Nick Ralston
The US Secret Service has just released a statement saying the shooter fired “multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue”.
“US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased,” the statement said.
“US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated.”
The statement said one spectator was killed and two others were critically injured.
“The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Former president Donald Trump is covered by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally after gunshots were fired.Credit: AP
10.54am
‘Felt the bullet’: Trump says he was shot in the earBy Angus Dalton
Former president Donald Trump has confirmed he was shot in the ear in a post on social media site Truth Social.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.”
Trump also thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement and extended his condolences to the family of the rally attendee who died.
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
He said nothing was known about the shooter.
10.40am
Trump ‘stronger than his enemies’By Chris Zappone
In contrast to the Democrats’ disavowal of political violence, Trump’s would-be running mates have shared the photo of the bloodied former president.
Senator Marco Rubio wrote on social media platform X that “God protected President Trump”.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, another possible Republican VP pick, drew a line between the apparent assassination attempt and Trump’s strength.
“We all know President Trump is stronger than his enemies. Today he showed it.”
The Republican National Convention begins on Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
There have been expectations Trump would announce his running mate before or during the convention.
10.34am
What we know so farBy James Lemon
Donald Trump appeared to be the target of an assassination attempt at a rallySecret Service agents surrounded Trump after multiple shots were fired while he was speakingTrump said on social media that a bullet pierced his upper right earPolice said Secret Service agents had killed the shooterTrump’s campaign team said he was “fine”; the Secret Service said he was safe
Donald Trump raises a fist to the crowd as Secret Service agents try to bundle him into a waiting vehicle.Credit: AP
10.33am
Scene of shooting is now ‘chaos’By Nick Ralston
Butler County’s District Attorney Richard Goldinger says the scene of the rally and shooting is currently chaotic.
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
“I have been told it is chaos, and it’s just, I can’t even give you a number of people that are there, but it’s really crazy,” he told CNN.
Law enforcement officers work at the campaign rally site for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.Credit: nna\advidler
Goldinger said investigations were under way as to how the gunman was able to get into a location to give him a clear shot at Trump.
“I don’t know how he would have gone to the location where he was, but he was outside the grounds, and I think that’s something that we’re going to have to figure out,” he told CNN.
He added that the shooting was “mind-blowing” and not something seen in the United States since the attempted assassination of then-president Ronald Reagan in 1981.
“Sadly, maybe it’s just the state of our current political situation, but I mean, you just wouldn’t even think it would happen, especially in where I live, in Butler County, you would not expect this.”
10.27am
‘I have an opinion’: Biden asked if incident was an assassination attemptBy Angus Dalton
US President Joe Biden says he hopes to speak to Donald Trump after the presumptive Republican candidate was rushed from the stage at a campaign rally amid gunshots.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick,” Biden said in a brief press conference from Delaware.
President Joe Biden speaks from Delaware.Credit: nna\advidler
“It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this.
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
“The bottom line is the Trump rally is a rally that … should have been able to be conducted peacefully without any problem.
“The idea that there’s political violence, or violence in America like this, is just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. Everybody, everybody must condemn it.”
Asked if he believed the incident was an assassination attempt, Biden said: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts”. He added he would wait for more information before commenting further.
10.14am
Watch live: President Joe Biden speaks after shooting at Trump rally
US President Joe Biden is speaking after a shooting at a Donald Trump campaign rally left at least two dead.
10.14am
A swift disavowal of political violence By Chris Zappone
Democratic political figures have rushed to denounce political violence after one of the worst episodes of violence aimed at a presidential figure since the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan in 1981.
US Senator Bernie Sanders called the incident at the Pennsylvania rally “unacceptable” and wished Trump a speedy recovery.
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, wrote that he was “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 county.”
US Senator Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, issued a statement on social media platform X:
“I am monitoring the situation at president Trump’s rally in Butler and I’ve reached out the state police to offer support. Political violence is never acceptable and I am hoping former president Trump & all attendees are safe. Everyone in Butler should listen to law enforcement.”
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
10.04am
‘Blew his head off’: Witness to shooting attackBy Nick Ralston
An eyewitness to the shooting told the BBC he saw the gunman on a roof and tried to alert the Secret Service and police.
“We noticed a guy bear-crawling up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us,” the man told the BBC.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is covered by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally on Saturday evening local time.Credit: AP
“We’re pointing at the guy ... you could clearly see him with a rifle. We are pointing at him, the police are down there running around on the ground, we are like, ‘hey man, there’s a guy on the roof with a rifle’.”
“I’m thinking to myself: ‘Why is Trump still speaking? Why have they not pulled him off the stage?’ I’m pointing at that roof and next thing I know, five shots rang out.
“He was up there for three or four minutes ... we were telling the police, we were pointing at him for the Secret Service.”
Asked if he saw what happened to the shooter, the man replied: “They blew his head off, the Secret Service blew his head off.”
9.57am
US President Joe Biden releases statement on shooting
US President Joe Biden has released a statement on the apparent shooting at a campaign rally held by presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump:
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. 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.
