Outrage and Blame After Donald Trump Injured at Pennsylvania Rally

Americans across the political spectrum reacted with outrage Saturday after an apparent attack on Donald Trump. The former president was escorted off stage during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon. Shots were heard minutes into his speech before he was then rushed off-stage by security staff. The AP later reported that the shooter was dead and a rally attendee was killed.

Trump appeared to fall to the ground as he presented his speech and appeared to have blood on the side of his face. He was quickly surrounded by armed security and stayed down for around a minute.

"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," Steven Cheung, Trump's spokesperson, said in a statement emailed to Newsweek.

The Secret Service said it was investigating the incident.

Pennsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, condemned political violence in the wake of the incident. "Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States. I have been briefed on the situation. @PAStatePolice are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local partners," he wrote.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reacted to the incident. "Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division, renounce all violence, and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family," he said. Kennedy's father RFK Sr. and uncle JFK were both assassinated, and Kennedy has repeatedly petitioned for Secret Service protection.

"This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned," said House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, also issued a statement. "As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe. As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former President's rally today are unharmed."

Newsweek has reached out to the Trump campaign and the Butler Police Department for comment.

Some Trump supporters blamed the media or the Democratic Party for the incident.

"Someone just tried to ASSASSINATE President Trump. The Democrats and the media are to blame for every drop of blood spilled today. For years and years, they've demonized him and his supporters," GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wrote on X. She included a video of the incident.

She added: "Today, someone finally tried to take out the leader of our America First and the greatest President of all time. Watch the video, President Trump said 'FIGHT,' SO WE WILL!!"

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, said to be a leading candidate to be Trump's running mate, blamed President Joe Biden. He wrote on X, "Today is not just some isolated incident. 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."

Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, said she was "praying" for Trump and the local community.

"Throughout history, those who hate God and embrace evil have joined forces with one another to oppose God, His Son, His Holy Spirit, and His people. WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD and WE WILL OVERCOME EVIL!" she wrote on X.

"Someone just tried to kill President Trump. Pray for him," Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, wrote on X. "And for swift justice."

"TRUMP WAS JUST SHOT ON LIVE TV. Please stop what you're doing and pray," the right-wing End Wokeness X account wrote on the social media platform and included a video of the incident.

"I said something would happen this week. I felt it in my gut all week. And someone did it. They tried to kill Trump," Laura Loomer, a right-wing pro-Trump activist, posted.

"He'll never stop fighting to Save America," Donald Trump Jr., the former president's son, wrote on X. He included a photo of his father raising his fist in the air after the incident.

The White House said on Saturday that "the President has received an initial briefing on the incident at Former President Trump's rally," per a pool report.

Update, 7/13/2024 at 7:12 p.m. ET: This story was published as breaking and additional information has been added.

Update, 7/13/2024 at 7:46 p.m. ET: Information confirming that two people are dead after the shooting was added.