Trump Survives Assassination Attempt at Pennsylvania Rally

Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
Updated Jul 15, 2024

Former President Donald Trump survived an apparent assassination attempt during a horrific scene in Butler, PA, late Saturday, falling to the ground as gunshots rang out in the middle of his rally speech before he was rushed off stage by the Secret Service. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was bleeding on the right side of his face but stood up surrounded by Secret Service agents as he pumped his fist to the crowd, signaling he was fine.

Trump, in a statement, said a “bullet pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

In a new statement, Trump says the bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear. He extends his condolences to family of the person killed and the one who was injured in today’s shooting. pic.twitter.com/mSQS37QrXD
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 14, 2024

A spokesperson for the Secret Service released a statement saying “the former President is safe.” “This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” the statement said. Law enforcement said the shooting is being investigated as an assassination attempt.

It was the first assassination attempt on a president or former president since 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot but survived an attempt by John Hinckley Jr. At least two people, including the shooter at the Trump rally, are dead.

Trump was speaking and looking toward the right side of the stage when gunshots initially rang out. He grabbed the right side of his face before Secret Service agents rushed toward him while urging him to “get down, get down.” Within seconds, law enforcement donning rifles came to the stage. A Secret Service agent can be heard on the still-hot microphone saying, “Shooter is down,” indicating it was safe to transport Trump back to his motorcade. Trump pumped his fist multiple times to a cheering crowd before agents whisked him to his vehicle.

His communications director released a statement saying, “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”

President Biden released a statement saying he was “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,” Biden said. “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 George W. Bush also released a statement: “Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response.”

Christian leaders encouraged the country to pray. “Let’s all be praying for President Trump’s complete recovery,” Greg Laurie said. “God protected him today. Let’s all be praying for the future of our country as well.”

“This is a time to unite against violence and pray for @realDonaldTrump and the victims of this assassination attempt,” J.D. Greear, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and a North Carolina pastor, said. “Whatever your politics, this is not the way.”

Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, requested prayers for Trump and called on Americans “of all ideological perspectives, Republicans and Democrats alike, to commit to bringing greater civility to the public square.”

“We should, and must, do better as a nation in our ability to lean into this shared humanity when we disagree on matters of public policy,” Daly said. “Today’s events should steel our resolve to do just that moving forward.”

Related Resource: Feeling Overwhelmed by the Stress of the Political Season?

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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.