- Donald Trump was rushed off the stage after an incident at his campaign rally on Saturday.
- Dramatic photos show Trump with blood on his face.
- Trump pumped his fist in the air as Secret Service agents whisked him away.
Former President Donald Trump was quickly escorted off the stage at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening after a series of loud sounds were heard.
Secret Service agents were captured in photos hurrying to assist Trump, with blood splatter seen on his face, particularly around his ear, as he was removed from the stage while pumping his fist.
A Trump spokesperson expressed gratitude to law enforcement and first responders for their prompt response to the.
The Secret Service confirmed that the former President is now safe and is currently undergoing medical evaluation at a nearby facility. Further updates will be provided soon.
Reporters at the scene have said there was a succession of loud noises before the Secret Service intervened.
This is an active crime scene,” Secret Service officers told reporters, ordering them out of the area.
“We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots, it sounded like between firecrackers and a small caliber handgun,” said John Yeykal from Franklin, Pennsylvania, who was attending his first Trump rally.
Washington Post reporter Meryl Kornfield first reported that Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said two people were dead, including an apparent shooter.
The DA didn’t immediately return a call and email from Business Insider.
The attack, by a shooter who law enforcement officials say was then killed by the Secret Service, was the first attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
It comes amid a deeply polarized political atmosphere, just four months from the presidential elections and days before Trump is to be officially named the Republican nominee at his party’s convention.
Addressing the nation about two hours after the shooting, President Joe Biden said he was relieved that Trump is reportedly “doing well.” He said he had been unable to reach Trump before his remarks and pledged to update the public later Saturday on whether they speak as well as additional details about the investigation.
“We cannot allow this to be happening,” Biden said. “The idea that there’s violence in America like this is just unheard of.”
Biden, speaking without a teleprompter, said he was waiting for additional information before formally calling the attack an attempted assassination on the former president.
“I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts,” he told reporters, pledging to provide updates as he learns more.
POLITICAL VIOLENCE AGAIN SHAKES AMERICA
The perils of campaigning took on a new urgency after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in California in 1968, and again in 1972 when Arthur Bremer shot and seriously hurt George Wallace, who was running as an independent on a campaign platform that has sometimes been compared to Trump’s. That led to increased protection of candidates, even as the threats persisted, notably against Jesse Jackson in 1988 and Barack Obama in 2008.
Presidents, particularly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, have even greater layers of security. Trump is a rarity as both a former president and a current candidate.
Trump could be heard on the video saying at least twice, “Let me get my shoes, let me get my shoes,” with another voice heard saying, “I’ve got you sir.”
Trump got to his feet moments later and could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face. He then pumped his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the word “Fight” twice his crowd of supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of “USA. USA. USA.”
Watch the video below;
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