Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was rushed to the hospital on Saturday after being shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred at the start of the rally in the northeastern state. “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.”
The Secret Service reported that the suspected shooter was killed, one spectator was fatally shot, and two others were seriously injured. Authorities are investigating the incident as an assassination attempt, and the FBI has launched an investigation.
According to the Associated Press, an AR-type rifle was found at the scene. The Secret Service confirmed that the shooter fired multiple rounds from an elevated position.
U.S. President Joe Biden, who was in Delaware for the weekend, immediately returned to the White House following the incident. He expressed relief that Trump was « safe and well » and condemned the violence. “There is no place for this kind of violence in America,” he said.
The White House confirmed that Biden and Trump spoke by phone after the incident. Details of their conversation were not disclosed, but an advisor to Trump confirmed the call took place.
In a joint statement, Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) said, “President Trump is doing well and is grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their swift action.”
“President Trump looks forward to joining all of you in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him as the 47th President of the United States. As our party’s candidate, President Trump will continue to share his vision to make America great again,” the statement added.
Republicans are set to gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15 to 18 to nominate Trump as their candidate for the November presidential election against Democratic rival Joe Biden.
