03:31 German government plans win for Trump
The German government is preparing for a possible second presidency of Donald Trump, according to Michael Link, the Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government. "Besides the intensive preparations of the German government, which are running very intensively and naturally confidential behind the scenes, we also need a consensus of the democratic parties, factions, and political foundations," Link told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "I am regularly seeking this consensus and have been networking intensively with the competent colleagues in CDU and CSU on the topic of preparation for a possible scenario Trump 2.0," says the FDP politician. Previously, Jens Spahn, the deputy chairman of the CDU, and Anton Hofreiter, the green chairman of the Bundestag European Affairs Committee, had warned that Germany should prepare better for a possible victory of Trump in the elections.
02:25 Biden calls for de-escalation in the campaign
US President Joe Biden urged for de-escalation in the US campaign after the attack on his predecessor and rival Donald Trump. "We settle our differences at the ballot box. That's how it works - at the ballot box, not with bullets," Biden said in a rare address to the nation from the Oval Office in the White House. "We need to lower the heated rhetoric in politics." He reminded Americans that they were "neighbors and friends, not enemies." Biden expressed relief that Trump was not seriously injured in the incident. Biden acknowledged that the campaign had been marked by highly heated political rhetoric but emphasized the high stakes in the upcoming presidential elections.
01:46 Biden resumes campaign planning
After a brief campaign pause following the attack on his predecessor and political opponent Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden plans to make public appearances in the coming days. According to White House sources, Biden will visit the NAACP convention in Las Vegas on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to attend a local campaign event in the desert metropolis of Nevada. Biden had canceled a trip to Texas scheduled for Monday and cut short a weekend stay in Delaware to return to the White House.
01:04 Quiet and frequently bullied: What is known about the shooter Matthew Crooks
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified the Trump assassination attempt suspect as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A driver's license photo of Crooks shows him as a young man with side-parted dark blond hair, glasses, and a few freckles on his face. Crooks' former classmates described him as a "quiet" student who often seemed "lonely," as reported by ABC News. One classmate said Crooks had been socially distant towards him. He could not remember hearing Crooks talk about politics in general or Trump in particular. Jason Kohler, who attended the same high school as the alleged shooter, told reporters that Crooks had been bullied. "He was quiet, but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much." Crooks, who occasionally wore hunter's clothing, was mocked for his clothing style.
00:35 "Next time not shoot in the vicinity": US Democrat fires employee for Facebook post
Democratic US Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi fired an employee who posted on social media that she wished the Trump attacker had better aim. According to "New York Times," Jacqueline Marsaw wrote on Facebook: "I don't condone violence, but please take shooting lessons, so next time you don't shoot in the vicinity. Oops, that wasn't me who spoke." Thompson, who represents Mississippi's second district in the US House of Representatives, writes on X, expresses gratitude that Trump is doing well. He adds that there is no place for political violence in America's democracy.
23:50 No intensification of security measures at Republican Party convention
The Secret Service representative in charge of security at the Republican Party convention shares that the measures for the large event have not been intensified yet. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson does not see the possibility of banning weapons in the external area of the event venue in Wisconsin as an additional precaution. Carrying weapons is protected by state laws, he says. At the Mega-Event, Donald Trump is expected to be officially endorsed as the party's presidential candidate this week. Trump is making efforts not to appear weak after the attack: He announced that he would travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the US federal state on Sunday afternoon (local time) for the party convention.
23:21 Unclear motive of the shooter in Biden's words
The motive of the shooter in the attempted assassination of US presidential candidate Donald Trump remains unclear. "We still have no information on the shooter's motive," says US President Joe Biden at the White House to journalists. Biden urges the public not to speculate and to let the law enforcement agencies do their work.
22:53 Financial markets expect "landslide victory for Trump"
After the attempted assassination of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, financial markets need to reposition themselves. The bullet that hit Trump at a campaign rally could increase his chances of winning the election - and therefore, investors expect the markets to focus on a steeper yield curve for US Treasury bonds. "The election is likely to be a landslide. This reduces uncertainty," says Nick Ferres, Chief Investment Manager at Vantage Point Asset Management. Rong Ren Goh, Portfolio Manager of Eastspring Investments in Singapore, expects the dollar to continue its recovery and investors to focus on a higher return on US government bonds.
22:07 Injured visitors in stable condition
The two people who were seriously injured in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump are in stable condition, according to the Pennsylvania police. At the campaign rally, a man from the audience was killed. The alleged shooter was shot by security guards. Trump was lightly wounded, and two visitors were seriously injured.
21:57 FBI: The suspect acted alone, no ideology identifiable yet
The FBI issues a warning: The alleged shooter acted alone, there are no further threats to security, an FBI representative tells the press. The incident is being classified as a domestic terror attack and an attempted assassination. The FBI is investigating the social media accounts of the 20-year-old who was killed. However, there have been no identified indications of an ideology or a psychological condition of the alleged attacker so far. The weapon was legally purchased, presumably by the suspect's father. Bomb experts have secured a suspicious device in the suspect's car, which has been taken to the lab for further investigation.
21:42 Starmer phones Trump
Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has phoned Trump, according to government sources. He condemned the violence and expressed his condolences for the victims and their families, the British Press Association reports. Starmer wished Trump and the other injured a quick recovery.
21:16 They'll be waiting: Söder gives Democrats an "external recommendation"
"Violence is certainly not a means of dispute resolution," says CSU chief Markus Söder and wishes Trump a speedy recovery after the attack. He assesses the consequences for the presidential campaign and gives the Democrats a tip.
20:47 Trump to travel to Wisconsin Republican Party convention soon
Just one day after the attack on him, former US President Donald Trump plans to travel to the Republican Party convention in the state of Wisconsin. Trump announced on Truth Social that he would leave for Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon local time and would not change his schedule.
20:39 Biden cancels trip to Texas
US President Joe Biden cancels a planned trip to Texas. The White House announced this. Biden had originally planned to travel to the southern state on Monday. After the shootings at Trump on Saturday evening local time in the state of Pennsylvania, Biden had already cut short a weekend stay in Delaware and returned to the White House early.
20:11 Biden announces heightened security measures for Republican Party convention and calls for unity
US President Joe Biden announces a speech to the nation and calls for unity. "We must come together as a nation," Biden says at the White House and announces that he will address the American people in an official statement from the Oval Office on Monday evening (in the German night to Tuesday). For the Republican Party convention, which begins on Monday, Biden announces heightened security measures. He also announces that an independent investigation into the background of the attack will be conducted. In the morning, Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris were briefed by law enforcement and security agencies on the latest investigation status.
20:07 Live on ntv: Biden comments on Trump assassination attempt
US President Joe Biden speaks out at this hour regarding the attempted assassination on his rival Donald Trump. Biden had already expressed his views on the incident just a few hours after it occurred on Saturday and stated, "There is no place for this kind of violence in America." He then phoned Trump. Biden was briefed in the morning by the heads of the FBI and the Secret Service, the security agency for presidents and former presidents, about the status of the investigations.
19:43 Firefighter threw himself in front of family and died "as a hero"
The man killed during a campaign rally for former US President Donald Trump in the state of Pennsylvania was a firefighter and a family man. Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro announced this and said he had spoken with his wife and daughters. The man died "as a hero" and threw himself in front of his family to protect them when the shots rang out at the Trump rally. He was a "dedicated supporter" of Trump. Besides the one man in the crowd who died, two other spectators were injured. Shapiro stated that their condition was still critical.
19:13 Many Republicans blame Biden and the Democrats
The overwhelming majority of Republicans in Congress offer prayers and support for former President Donald Trump in the hours following the attack on a campaign event in Butler. According to the "Washington Post," approximately 30 of them directly blame President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party, or journalists for the alleged instigation of the attack - despite Biden's clear condemnation of the violence and his statement that "everyone must condemn political violence."
18:44 Former German US Ambassador: Copycats or Avengers more likely
The former German ambassador to the US, Wolfgang Ischinger, warns of the danger of a spiral of violence in the US election campaign. He states to the "Tagesspiegel" that "copycats - against Trump - or avengers - against Joe Biden - are more likely." This is especially true because "multiple conspiracy theories are already confusing the already uncertain American electorate." Michael Link, the Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government, also fears further political polarization in the US. "That must not happen. It's important now to maintain calm and respect. That's what President Joe Biden did with his call to Donald Trump," says the FDP politician.
18:06 Trump supporters see conspiracy theories confirmed
The shots at Donald Trump could be decisive for the upcoming US presidential election, explains Frank Umbach. The security expert finds it "incomprehensible" that there were no follow-up actions on the shooter's hints and praises the Democrats for their "appropriate reaction."
17:37 "He will never stop fighting for the salvation of America" - Trump's children express themselves
Donald Trump's children pay tribute and thank the agents who protected their father. "He will never stop fighting for the salvation of America", writes Donald Trump Jr. on Twitter along with a photo of his father with a bloodied face raising his fist. Eric Trump shares the same photo on Instagram with a similar message in capital letters. In an Instagram story, Tiffany Trump thanks God for her father's life. "Political violence is never the answer", she writes, thanks the law enforcement agencies and the Secret Service, and pays tribute to the victims. "As you saw today, my father is a fighter, and he will continue to fight for you and the USA." Ivanka Trump, who previously announced that she would not participate in her father's presidential campaign this year, thanks the bodyguards and writes: "I continue to pray for our country", and: "I love you, Dad, today and always."
17:15 The assassin also had explosives in his car
The Trump assassin had also had explosives in his car, according to the "Wall Street Journal". The car was secured near the crime scene, reports the newspaper, citing unidentified sources. The weapon used in the attack was bought by the father of the suspected assassin, reports the newspaper and ABC News further. It is said to be an AR-15 rifle. The AR-15 was developed in the 1950s, initially for the military. The AR-15 is the civilian version of this weapon. Technically speaking, it is not possible to fire continuously with this weapon. Skilled shooters can, however, fire many shots in very short order.
16:59 Now Melania Trump also speaks out
After the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, Melania Trump also speaks out. The man who was killed in the attack was a "Monster" who had tried to "extinguish Donald's passion, his laughter, his inventiveness, his love of music, and his enthusiasm", explains the former First Lady of the USA on Twitter. When she saw that a bullet had grazed her husband, she realized that her life and that of her son Barron were "on the brink of a devastating change". Melania Trump also thanks the personal security of her husband.
16:26 "They are not behind me, they are behind you" - Trump campaign starts fundraising appeal
According to Brad Bannon, a democratic strategist, the incident could be used by Trump. It fits the narrative of the former US President that the country is on the wrong track. "The attempted assassination generates sympathy for Trump", Bannon says. "It also confirms the belief of his voters that something fundamental is wrong in this country." Trump's appearances at the four-day Republican nominating convention in Milwaukee, which begins on Monday, could be fueled by the attack. "If the country wasn't a powder keg before, it is now", says Chip Felkel, a Republican political analyst who is not a Trump supporter. Hours after the attack, Trump's campaign starts a fundraising appeal via text message. "They are not behind me, they are behind you", reads the message to voters.
16:08 Concerns before the Party: Republicans working with 40 law enforcement agenciesRepublican Party chairman Michael Whatley assures that the agencies are working intensely to ensure security at the upcoming Republican Party convention in Milwaukee. They are working with 40 different law enforcement agencies, as yet undisclosed preparations, Whatley tells Fox News.
15:44 Top Advisor to Trump Campaign: "Please report anything suspicious immediately"Top advisors to Donald Trump's campaign team advise caution. "We are increasing armed security presence 24/7 with officers on site. Additional security checks are being conducted. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all staff", quoted by the "Washington Post" Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles from a joint memo. "We urge you to recognize the political polarization in this heated election. Please report anything suspicious immediately to the leadership or on-site security team", it continues.
15:24 Witnesses describe chaotic scenes at Trump assassination attemptDuring Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania, shots were fired, causing chaos and panic. Witnesses speak of speculations about fireworks, the sound of gunshots, gunfire on the roof, and the moment Trump fell to the ground.
14:58 Leading Republican: "We need to tone down the rhetoric"The President of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, is working to calm tempers. "We need to tone down the rhetoric", he says on MSNBC. "We need to lower the temperature in this country."
14:30 Expert: Trump assassination attempt is an opportunity for Biden
14:03 Trump calls for unity"It's more important than ever that we come together", writes Donald Trump on his platform "Truth Social". He is already looking forward to speaking in Wisconsin "to our great country" this week. The Republican National Convention takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from Monday to Thursday. Trump writes further, "I pray for the wounded, and we hold the memory of the fallen civilian in our hearts." Trump had already called for unity in his inaugural address as US President in January 2017.
12:58 NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg shocked by assassination attemptNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is shocked by the attack on Trump. "I am appalled by the attempted assassination of former President Trump", Stoltenberg writes on X. He wishes Trump a speedy recovery and is thinking of the victims. Political violence has no place in democracies. The NATO allies stand together to defend freedom and values.
12:13 Video shows seconds between the shooter's shots and the Secret Service's shotsThe American gossip news site TMZ shows a video in which both the shooter's gunshots and the Secret Service's shots, which may have saved Trump's life, can be heard. The attack caused panic among the onlookers. The recording was made from outside the area where the rally took place, according to TMZ.
11:40 Secret Service refutes Republican claimThe Secret Service has refuted the claim that they had denied additional security resources to Trump in the last few months. "The allegation that a member of President Trump's security team requested additional security resources that were denied by the Secret Service or the Home Security Ministry is absolutely false", said Secret-Service-Spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. In fact, the Secret Service had recently increased security measures.
A few hours after the attack, Republican Congressman Michael Waltz stated that he had "very reliable sources" who said that there had been repeated requests for stronger secret service protection for President Trump. Waltz did not provide any evidence.
11:16 Steinmeier wishes Trump a speedy recoveryFederal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the family of the victim's family: "I condemn the attack on the 45th US President, Donald J. Trump", writes Steinmeier in a statement. "Violence has no place in our democracy - not in America, not here. We can all contribute: Let us respect violence in political disputes! Let us reject hatred and incitement from campaigns and debates! Democracy tolerates sharp controversies - but violence destroys democracy. Donald J. Trump and the injured person wish a speedy recovery. My deepest condolences go to the family of the victim of the attack."
10:32 Expert: "Trump produced that image directly and instinctively"Seconds after the shots were fired, Donald Trump was seen standing up, covered in blood, and raising his fist at Secret Service agents. Political scientist Thomas Jaeger sees the "master of political marketing" at work here. It remains to be seen if Trump will be able to continue spinning his "witch hunt" narrative.
10:10 Sharpshooter seems to have noticed the assassin just before the first shotsA video posted on X shows a sharpshooter at the Trump rally in exactly the moment the shots were fired. Sharpshooters are deployed at such events by the Secret Service to secure the area - which apparently did not go well in this case. The sharpshooter seems to be observing something or someone through his telescopic sight. He recoils, just before the shots can be heard, suggesting that he became aware of the shooter as a threat in that moment. Shortly thereafter, the shooter was shot.
09:23 Participant warned security before the attackBefore the shots were fired at Trump's campaign rally in Butler, participants had noticed a man with a rifle on a roof near the venue. One of them, Greg Smith, told security personnel: "Hey man, there's a guy with a rifle on the roof", he later told the BBC. The response was: "Ha, what?", as if the security personnel did not know what was going on. "I thought: Why is Trump still talking, why didn't they get him off the stage? ... The next thing I heard were five shots."
09:15 Scholz condemns attempted attack on Trump as despicableGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz comments on the attack against US Presidential candidate Donald Trump: "The attack on US Presidential candidate Donald Trump is despicable. I wish him a quick recovery. My thoughts are also with the people who were affected by this act of violence. Such acts threaten democracy."
08:28 Photographer takes picture of possible projectileNew York Times photographer Doug Mills apparently took a picture at the exact moment a bullet narrowly missed Trump. Michael Harrigan, a retired FBI agent, told the newspaper that "the photo could very well show the air displacement from a bullet." Generally, it is possible to photograph a flying bullet, Harrigan added. Mills used a Sony digital camera at the Trump rally, which can take up to 30 pictures per second. The photo was taken with a shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds.
08:00 Alleged shooter registered as a RepublicanThe FBI has identified the suspect. He is a man named Thomas Matthew Crooks. The 20-year-old suspect, who was killed during the shooting, is from the small town of Bethel Park in the US state of Pennsylvania, an hour south of Butler, where the Trump rally took place. Crooks is registered as a Republican. According to reports he donated $15 to a Democratic donation organization on the day of Biden's inauguration in January 2021.
The New York Post notes that Crooks donated at the age of 17. He registered as a Republican member in September 2021 when he turned 18.
07:46 Expert: "Secret Service must answer some questions"Donald Trump, as a former President and candidate, is under the protection of the Secret Service. There are highest security measures in place at all campaign events, as Obama's former campaign advisor Julius van de Laar reports. It now needs to be worked out how such an attacker could get through.
07:38 World leaders react in shockWorld leaders reacted in shock to the attack on former President Trump. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen writes on X, she is deeply shocked, wishes Trump a quick recovery, and expresses her condolences to the innocent victim's family. "Political violence has no place in a democracy," writes von der Leyen. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expresses similar sentiments. "My thoughts are with former President Trump, the attendees, and all Americans."
The United Nations also condemns the attack on Trump. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns this act of political violence," the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres states. "He wishes President Trump a swift recovery." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shares that he is "appalled" by the news of the attack. "Such violence has no justification and no place in the world. Never should violence prevail." Zelensky also wishes Trump a swift recovery.
Already on Saturday evening (local time), Biden stated that he was grateful that Trump was safe and doing well. In the US, "there is no place for this kind of violence."
07:21 Open Questions to the Secret ServiceFBI Agent Kevin Rojek states at a press conference that it was "surprising" that the protector was able to fire multiple shots. In response to questions about security measures, he states that such questions should be answered by the Secret Service. The Secret Service is not a secret service, but rather (among other things) responsible for the security of US Presidents and former US Presidents.
"They conduct the initial security assessments and determine where the various security locations should be," Rojek says. "And they are the ones responsible for securing the crime scene." A representative of the Secret Service is not present at the press conference. "Nobody was available," Rojek says.
07:04 Trump in New Jersey, apparently unharmedA Trump spokesperson posts a video that shows Trump leaving an airport in New Jersey without assistance. His injured ear is not visible in the video. The Republicans have announced that the nominating convention will take place as planned; the convention takes place from Monday to Thursday in Milwaukee. There, Trump will be officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate. US President Biden shared that the Democrats will stop all campaign ads as soon as possible.
06:50 Shooter fired from a roof near the rallyAnthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, states that the suspect fired "multiple shots towards the stage" and was on "an elevated position" outside the event site. This suggests that a roof near the gathering could be meant.
06:39 Shooter is reportedly a 20-year-old from PennsylvaniaThe person who shot Trump is a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, according to a source familiar with the investigation of the "Washington Post". The FBI officially states that they have not yet identified the shooter, but are "close to identification". The shooter is dead. According to Pennsylvania police, it is too early to say whether it was a lone gunman. However, there is also no indication of "any further threat".
06:25 Media: Trump discharged from hospitalTrump was discharged from the hospital late Saturday evening (local time) according to a report by the news agency Bloomberg.
06:01 FBI confirms attempted assassination of Ex-President Trump at rallyThe US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has classified the incident at a campaign rally in the US state of Pennsylvania as an "attempted assassination" against former President Donald Trump. "This is an attempted assassination against our former President Donald Trump," FBI Agent Kevin Rojek says in Butler, the location of the rally. Trump was injured in the ear by the gunfire, according to law enforcement reports. In addition to the alleged shooter, a bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured.
03:58 Republicans to hold convention despite Trump attackThe US Republicans plan to hold their nomination convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as scheduled this week, according to a joint statement from the party and Trump's campaign team. The Republicans are set to gather in Milwaukee starting on Monday for their nomination convention to officially nominate Trump as their presidential candidate.
03:54 Shooter fired from "elevated position"During the attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the alleged shooter opened fire from an "elevated position" outside the event venue. One person was killed and two others were seriously injured, according to the Secret Service. Initially, it was reported that one person had been severely injured.
02:55 Trump: I was hit by a bullet in my earFormer US President Donald Trump has revealed in a post on his Truth Social platform that he was injured by a bullet during the attack at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. "I was hit by a bullet in my ear, which pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump wrote.
00:33 Shots fired at Trump: Secret Service escorts ex-president from stageFormer US President Donald Trump was escorted from the stage during a campaign event in Pennsylvania after shots were fired. Prior to this, images emerged showing Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist.
In the context of the US Presidential Election 2024, German governments are preparing for a potential second presidency of Donald Trump, as mentioned by Michael Link, the Transatlantic Coordinator. Given the violent incidents surrounding the US political landscape, Joe Biden has emphasized the need to lower heated rhetoric in politics and settle differences at the ballot box.
