After shots at Trump: 'The trench in the US gets deeper'
Could the thwarted attack on Donald Trump lead to a moment of inner political reconciliation for the American society? Political scientist Thomas Jaeger sees no signs for it. On the contrary, the division in the country might worsen.
10:13 First analyses: Chances of a victory in the election for Trump increase
The attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump at a campaign event over the weekend has increased the chances of his victory in the November election, according to Ipek Ozkardeska, analyst at Swissquote Bank. The chances for a victory of Trump, who is positively evaluated by the market according to the analyst, rose to 67 percent after the attack compared to 61 percent before. "Although the attack fuels concerns about a deeply divided America where political violence is gaining the upper hand, it has increased the chances that Trump will win the presidential elections in November," the analyst explains.
09:54 Attack as campaign boost? Boese: Berlin prepares for Trump 2.0
The German government has been preparing for the possibility that Donald Trump will return to the White House for some time. Many in political Berlin recall the first term with unpleasant memories, as ntv correspondent Heike Boese summarizes:
09:25 "Heated moments could now become very, very dangerous"
The chairwoman of the SPD, Saskia Esken, says in the RTL/ntv Morning Show on the question of whether the attack will increase Trump's chances of winning: "It's to be expected, yes, that he and especially his supporters will use this incident to further heat up the situation. We have also experienced such situations in the past, which have ended up in storming the Capitol. Such heated moments could now become very, very dangerous, not only in terms of a victory in the election." On the question of how Germany and the German government should react if Trump wins the presidential elections, the SPD chairwoman says: "It's long been clear that the German government, that governments in Europe, are aware that they need to get closer together."
08:48 "Have we overlooked something?" - consequences for the Secret Service
After the attack on Donald Trump, the Secret Service is under scrutiny for not providing adequate protection. "The Congress will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the tragic incident to determine where there were gaps in security and what else the American people need to know," says spokesman Mike Johnson, a Republican and Trump supporter, to the broadcaster NBC. Robert E. McDonald, a professor at the University of New Haven who worked for the Secret Service for 20 years, also tells the "New York Times": "Have we overlooked something? And if we have overlooked something, we must stand up and take responsibility for it." McDonald wonders why the secret service did not secure the building with sharpshooters.
08:05 Secret Service under criticism: Shots at Trump: "Perhaps the assassin followed the police officer"
After the planned attack on Donald Trump, the Secret Service has many questions to answer. Trump himself has so far only commented on the incident on Truth Social, and the Republican Party convention is approaching. ntv correspondent Christopher Wittich summarizes the latest developments.
07:34 After the Attack: Joe Biden will not make "Battlefield"
US-President Biden expresses himself in a speech and on social media again about the attack on his political rival Donald Trump. The 81-year-old writes on X: "Political differences are unavoidable in the American democracy. They are part of human nature. But politics should never be a literal battlefield or - God forbid - a deadly battlefield."
06:57 The Attack Has Turned Everything Upside Down
Regarding the attack on Donald Trump, the Australian newspaper "Sydney Morning Herald" writes: "US-President Joe Biden faces a delicate balancing act, as America is still reeling from the attack on its biggest political rival. For weeks, Biden had planned to intensify his attacks on Donald Trump in the coming weeks to prove to Democrats that he has the mental and physical strength to beat the disruptive Republicans in the November election. The strategy was simple: present the voters with the strengths of his performance in his first term, present a bold vision for the future, and go on the offensive against Trump by portraying him as the greatest threat to democracy in the US. But the attack on the former president on Saturday has turned everything upside down. Facing the fear of escalating violence, Biden knows he cannot further fuel the tensions of a country teeming with hostility, anger, and fear."
06:38 A Grand Show is Coming: Trump is in Milwaukee
After the party primaries in the individual states, both the Democrats and the Republicans must officially confirm their overall results on a national level. This is done at the respective nomination conventions. The Democrats will meet for this purpose in mid-August in Chicago in the state of Illinois. The Republican nomination convention, on the other hand, takes place this time from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee in the state of Wisconsin. Trump has already arrived in the city. He can present himself for the first time as the clear leader of the Republicans at a nomination convention. In 2016, he entered as an outsider, and in 2020, the Republicans were hindered from holding a large, pompous event due to the pandemic.
06:14 The Trump Attack Affects the Stock Exchange
The Asian stock markets react with uncertainty to the attempted attack on US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Investors are concerned about potential effects on future US economic policy. At the bond markets, yields for government bonds rose, which experts attribute to the expectation of a potentially inflationary and debt-intensive economic policy under a Trump presidency. In addition, stricter immigration laws could worsen the labor market and drive wages up. "The market reaction to a Trump presidency was previously characterized by a stronger dollar and a steeper yield curve for US government bonds," says Rong Ren Goh, Portfolio Manager at Eastspring Investments in Singapore. "We may observe some of these developments in the coming week if the election chances continue to improve after this incident."
05:56 Trump: He keeps thinking about the small head movement before the assassination
Donald Trump keeps thinking about the moment before the assassination attempt that possibly saved his life: a small head movement to better see the screen. This likely prevented a bullet from fatally hitting his head and instead grazed his ear. "The most incredible thing was that I not only turned around but exactly at the right time and in the right amount," Trump told the "Washington Examiner" during a speech on board his 757 as he flew to Milwaukee for the beginning of the Republican National Convention. "If I had only half turned, it would have hit the back of my brain. The other way goes directly through the skull. The chance that I would get a perfect turn is probably less than one in ten percent, so I shouldn't be here."
05:22 Trump: I'm just realizing it now
After the assassination attempt at a campaign event, Donald Trump called for calm and unity. "This is a chance to bring the whole country, indeed the whole world, together," Trump told the "Washington Examiner." The incident deeply affected him. He now realizes ("Reality is just setting in"). Trump survived the attack because he turned away from the crowd at a crucial moment. "I rarely turn away from the crowd. If I hadn't done that in this moment, we wouldn't be having this conversation, or?"
04:46 "NYT": Explosives found in Trump-Attacker's house
More information is coming to light about the Trump attacker. Besides the rudimentary explosives found in Thomas Matthew Crooks' car, the 20-year-old may have had explosives in his house. The "New York Times" reports this based on sources involved in the investigation.
04:15 Trump-Attacker was a member of a shooting range
According to US media, the Trump attacker was a member of a shooting range. "The Clairton Sportsmen's Club can confirm that Thomas Matthew Crooks was a member," the club's lawyer, Robert Bootay, said in a statement. "Beyond that, the club, due to ongoing police investigations, cannot make any further comments on this matter." The Clairton Sportsmen's Club operates a wooded facility in the southern hills of Pittsburgh with a 200-yard shooting range.
03:31 German government preparing for a Trump re-election
The German government is preparing for a possible second US presidency for Donald Trump, according to the words of its Transatlantic Coordinator, Michael Link. "Besides the intensive preparations of the German government, which are running very intensively but self-evidently discreetly behind the scenes, we also need a consensus of the democratic parties, factions, and political foundations," Link told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "I am seeking this consensus regularly and have been networking intensively with the competent colleagues in the CDU and CSU on the topic of preparing for a possible scenario Trump 2.0," says the FDP politician. Previously, the deputy CDU fraction leader Jens Spahn and the green chairman of the Bundestag European Affairs Committee, Anton Hofreiter, had warned that Germany should prepare better for a possible Trump re-election.
02:25 Biden calls for de-escalation in campaign
US President Joe Biden urged for de-escalation in the US campaign following the attack on his predecessor and political rival Donald Trump. "We settle our differences at the ballot box. That's how we do it - 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 temperature in politics." He reminded Americans that they are "neighbors and friends, not enemies." The Democrat 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 resume public appearances in the coming days. According to the White House, 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 FBI identified the Trump attacker as the 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 claimed that Crooks had been socially withdrawn. He could not remember having heard Crooks discuss politics in general or Trump specifically. 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 in the leg": Democratic congresswoman fires employee for Facebook post
Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson in the US House of Representatives fired an employee who had posted on social media that she wished the Trump attacker had shot him in a more precise location. According to the "New York Times," Jacqueline Marsaw wrote on Facebook: "I don't condone violence, but please take marksmanship classes so you don't miss next time. Ups, that wasn't me who spoke." Thompson, who represents Mississippi's second district, wrote on X, expressing gratitude that Trump was okay. He added that there is no place for political violence in America's democracy.
23:50 No intensification of security measures at Republican Party convention
The security representative for the Republican Party convention, Audrey Gibson-Cichino of the Secret Service, reports that the measures for the large event have not been intensified yet. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson does not intend to prohibit weapons in the outer area of the event venue as an additional precaution. Carrying firearms is protected by state laws, Johnson says. The Mega-Event is scheduled to officially nominate Donald Trump as the presidential candidate of the party in the coming week. Trump is trying to avoid giving an impression of weakness: He announced that he will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the US federal state for the party convention on Sunday afternoon (local time).
23:21 Unclear motive for Trump attacker
After the shooting at US presidential candidate Donald Trump, the motive of the shooter remains unclear. "We still have no information about the motive of the shooter," says US President Joe Biden at the White House to journalists. Biden urges the public not to make assumptions and to let the law enforcement agencies do their work.
22:53 Financial markets expect "landslide victory for Trump"
After the attempted shooting at Donald Trump, the financial markets need to reposition themselves. The bullet that hit Trump at an election rally could increase his chances of winning - and therefore, investors expect that the markets will be affected, they say. "The election is likely to be a landslide. That reduces uncertainty," says Nick Ferres, Chief Investment Manager at Vantage Point Asset Management. Rong Ren Goh, Portfolio Manager of Eastspring Investments in Singapore, expects that the dollar will continue to recover and investors will focus on a steeper yield curve for US Treasury bonds.
22:07 Injured visitors in stable condition
The two people who were seriously injured in the shooting attempt on 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 injured, and two visitors were seriously injured.
21:57 FBI: Shooter acted alone, no identifiable ideology or mental illness yet
The FBI issues a statement: The alleged shooter acted alone, there is no further danger for security, an FBI representative says. The incident is being classified as a domestic terrorist 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 discernible indications of an ideology or a mental illness of the alleged shooter so far. The weapon was legally purchased, presumably by the suspect's father. Bomb experts have also secured a suspicious device in the suspect's car, which has been taken to the lab for further investigation.
21:42 British Prime Minister Starmer calls Trump
According to government sources, the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to the wounded former US President Trump. He condemned the violence and expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, it is reported. Trump and the other injured were wished a quick recovery by Starmer, according to the British news agency PA.
21:16 They will be waiting for this: Söder gives US Democrats "recommendation from outside"
"Violence is certainly not a means of resolution", says CSU chief Markus Söder and wishes Donald 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 Republican Party convention in Wisconsin 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. The Republican presidential candidate announced on the online platform Truth Social that he would leave for Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon local time and not change his schedule.
20:39 Biden cancels trip to Texas
US President Joe Biden cancels a planned trip to Texas at short notice. The White House announced this. Biden had originally planned to leave for the southern state on Monday. After the shootings at Trump's rally in the state of Pennsylvania on Saturday evening local time, Biden had already cut short a weekend stay in Delaware and returned to the government headquarters in Washington earlier than planned.
20:11 Biden announces heightened security measures for Republican Party convention
US President Joe Biden announces a speech to the nation and calls for unity. "We must stand 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 (German night). For the Republican Party convention, which begins on Monday, security measures will be increased, Biden also announces. An independent investigation into the background of the attack is also to be carried out. Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris were informed about the current investigation status by law enforcement and security agencies in the morning.
20:07 Live on ntv: Biden speaks about the attempted assassination on Trump
US President Joe Biden speaks to the hour about the attempted assassination on his rival Donald Trump. Biden had already spoken a few hours after the attack on Saturday and declared, "There is no place in America for this kind of violence". He then called Trump. Biden was briefed on the status of the investigations by the heads of the FBI and the Secret Service, the security agency for presidents and former presidents, in the morning.
19:43 Firefighter threw himself in front of his family and died "as a hero"
The man killed at a campaign rally for former US President Donald Trump in the state of Pennsylvania was a firefighter and family man. This was announced by the democratic governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, and he said he had spoken to the man's 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 "passionate supporter" of Trump. In addition to the man who died, two other spectators were injured. Shapiro said their condition was critical.
19:13 Some Republicans hold Biden and Democrats accountable
Many Republican members of Congress offer prayers and support for former President Donald Trump in the hours following the shooting at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. 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 act and his statement that "everyone must condemn political violence."
18:44 Former German US Ambassador: Imitators 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. "Imitators - against Trump -, or Avengers - against Joe Biden - are more likely," he tells the "Tagesspiegel". This is all the more true because "multiple conspiracy theories are confusing the already uncertain American electorate." The Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government, Michael Link also fears further political polarization in the US. "This must not happen. It is now important to maintain calm and respect. President Joe Biden did this 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 was no follow-up on the shooter's hints and praises the Democrats for "the right reaction."
17:37 "He will never stop fighting for the salvation of America" - Trump's children express themselves
The children of former President Donald Trump pay tribute to their father and thank the agents who protected him. "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 that her father is still alive. "Political violence is never the answer," she writes, thanking the law enforcement agencies and the Secret Service, and honoring 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 shooter also had explosives in his car
According to information from the "Wall Street Journal," the Trump assassination attempt suspect also had explosives in his car. The car near the crime scene was reportedly secured by the authorities, according to the newspaper, citing unidentified sources. The weapon used in the crime was reportedly purchased by the father of the alleged suspect, according to the newspaper and ABC News further. It is said to be an AR-15 type rifle. The AR-15 was developed in the 1950s, initially for the military. The AR-15 is the civilian version of this weapon. Unlike the military version, this weapon is not technically capable of continuous firing. Skilled shooters can, however, fire many shots in a very short time.
16:59 Melania Trump also speaks out
Following the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, Melania Trump has also spoken out. The slain security guard was a "Monster," who had tried to "extinguish Donald's passion, his laughter, his inventiveness, his love of music, and his enthusiasm," explained the former First Lady of the USA at X. 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 security personnel of her husband.
16:26 "They're not behind me, they're behind you" - Trump campaign launches fundraising appeal
In the opinion of 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," says Bannon. "It also confirms the perception of his voters that something fundamental is wrong in this country." Trump's appearances at the four-day Republican nomination 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 launched a fundraising appeal via text message. "They're not behind me, they're behind you," reads the message to voters.
16:08 Concerns before the convention: Republicans working with 40 security agencies
Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley assures that the authorities are working intensively to ensure security at the upcoming convention in Milwaukee. They are working with 40 different security agencies, according to Whatley on Fox News. The specific precautions that have been taken were not disclosed.
15:44 Top advisors to Trump team: "If something seems strange to you, please report it immediately"
Top advisors to Donald Trump's campaign team advise caution. "We are increasing the armed security presence 24/7 with officers on site. Additional security checks are being conducted. Our top priority is to ensure the safety of all staff," quotes the "Washington Post" Trump campaign advisors Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles from a joint memo. "We urge you to recognize the political polarization in this heated election. If something seems strange to you, please report it immediately to the leadership or a security team on site," it continues.
15:24 Witnesses describe chaotic scenes at Trump assassination attemptDuring Trump's campaign speech in Pennsylvania, shots were fired, causing chaos and panic. Witnesses speak of speculations about fireworks, the sound of gunshots, gunshots 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 trying to calm things down. "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 reconciliation"It's more important than ever that we come together," writes Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. He is already looking forward to speaking in Wisconsin "to our great country" this week. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Republican National Convention takes place from Monday to Thursday. Trump writes further, he is praying for the wounded, and holds the memory of the slain civilian "in our hearts." Trump had already called for unity in his inaugural speech as US President in January 2017.
12:58 NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg shocked by assassination attemptNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is shocked by the assassination attempt on Trump. "I am shocked by the attempted assassination of former President Trump," he writes on X. He wishes him a speedy recovery and is thinking of the victims. Political violence has no place in democracies. The NATO allies are standing 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 it appears that both the shooter's shots and the shots that likely 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, as TMZ reports.
11:40 Secret Service denies Republican accusationThe Secret Service has denied the accusation that they had refused additional security resources for Trump in the last months. "The claim that a member of the former President's security team requested additional security resources that were denied by the Secret Service or the Home Security Department is absolutely false," said Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. In fact, the Secret Service had recently increased security measures.
Few hours after the assassination attempt on Trump, Republican Congressman Michael Waltz had said that he had "reliable sources" who told him that there had been repeated requests for stronger intelligence service protection for President Trump. Waltz provided no evidence.
11:16 Steinmeier wishes Trump swift recoveryBundespresident Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemns the attack and expresses his condolences to the victim's family: "I condemn the attack on the 45th US President, Donald J. Trump," Steinmeier writes 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 push back hate and incitement from campaigning and debates! Democracy tolerates sharp controversies - but violence destroys democracy. Donald J. Trump and the injured deserve swift recovery. My deepest condolences go to the victim's family."
10:32 Expert: "Trump produced that image directly, instinctively"Seconds after the shots were fired, Donald Trump is seen raising his fist and shouting at Secret Service agents. Political scientist Thomas Jaeger sees the "master of political marketing" at work here. It remains to be seen if Trump can continue spinning his "witch hunt" narrative.
10:10 Sharpshooter seemed 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. The shooter was soon shot dead.
09:23 Participant warned of the assassin before the attackParticipants at the Trump rally in Butler had noticed a man with a rifle on a roof near the venue before the shooting. One of them, Greg Smith, alerted on-site security: "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 had not known what was going on. "I thought: Why is Trump still speaking, why didn't they get him off the stage? ... The next thing I heard were five shots."
09:15 Scholz condemns the attackBundeskanzler Olaf Scholz reacts to the attempted attack on Trump on X: "The attack on US presidential candidate Donald Trump is abhorrent. I wish him a swift recovery. My thoughts are also with those affected by the attack. Such acts threaten democracy."
08:28 Photographer captures image of possible projectileDoug Mills, a photographer for the "New York Times", apparently took a photo at the exact moment a bullet narrowly missed Donald Trump. Michael Harrigan, a retired FBI agent, told the newspaper that "the photo could very well show the air displacement caused by a bullet." In general, 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 photos per second. The photo was taken with a shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds.
08:00 Alleged Shooter Identified as RepublicanThe FBI has identified the suspect. It is a man named Thomas Matthew Crooks. The 20-year-old victim who was killed during the shooting attempt 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 a registered 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" points out that Crooks was 17 years old at the time of the donation. He registered as a Republican Party member in September 2021 when he turned 18.
07:46 Expert: "Secret Service needs to answer some questions"Donald Trump, as an ex-President and candidate, is under the protection of the Secret Service. There are highest security precautions at all campaign events, as Obama's former campaign advisor Julius van de Laar reports. It remains to be worked out how it was possible that a shooter could attack, despite these measures.
07:38 World leaders react in shockWorld leaders reacted in shock to the attack on Ex-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", she writes. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expresses similar sentiments. "My thoughts are with former President Trump, the participants of the event, and all Americans."
The United Nations also condemns the attack on Trump. "The Secretary-General condemns this act of political violence in the strongest terms", explains the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres. "He wishes President Trump a quick 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 quick recovery.
Already on Saturday evening (local time), Biden stated that he was grateful that Trump was safe and doing well. In the USA, "there is no place for this kind of violence".
07:21 Open questions to the Secret ServiceFBI agent Kevin Rojek speaks at a press conference and finds it "surprising" that the shooter was able to fire several shots. In response to a question about security measures, he says that such questions must be answered by the Secret Service. Although the name suggests otherwise, the Secret Service is not a secret service, but (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 located", 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", so Rojek.
07:04 Trump in New Jersey, apparently unharmedA Trump spokesperson posted a video, which 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 go ahead as planned; the Convention will take place from Monday to Thursday in Milwaukee. There, Trump will officially be nominated as the Republican Presidential candidate. US President Biden announced that the Democrats would 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, stated that the shooter had "fired several shots towards the stage" and was located "on an elevated position" outside the event venue. This likely means there was a roof near the rally.
06:39 Shooter is reportedly a 20-year-old from PennsylvaniaThe person who shot at Trump is a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, according to a source familiar with the investigation of the "Washington Post". Officially, the FBI stated that they had not yet identified the shooter but were "close to identification". The shooter is deceased. According to the Pennsylvania Police, it is too early to say whether it was a lone gunman. However, there is 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 Bloomberg.
06:01 FBI confirms attempted assassination of Ex-President Trump at rallyFollowing the shootings at a campaign rally in the US state of Pennsylvania, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has classified the incident as an "attempted assassination" against former President Donald Trump. "This is an attempted assassination against our former President Donald Trump," FBI Agent Kevin Rojek said in Butler, the location of the rally. Trump was injured in the ear by the gunfire, according to law enforcement reports. One bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured.
04:41 Biden phones Trump after attackUS President Joe Biden personally phoned Trump after the attack, the White House announced without disclosing the contents of the conversation. On Sunday, Biden will be briefed by law enforcement agencies about the status of the investigation, it was further stated.
03:58 Republicans to hold Convention despite Trump attackThe US Republicans plan to hold the Nominating Convention in Milwaukee this week despite the attack on their Presidential candidate Donald Trump. The party and Trump's campaign team made this joint statement. The Republicans will gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin starting Monday to officially nominate the 78-year-old as their Presidential candidate.
02:55 Trump: I was hit by a bullet in the earThe former US President Donald Trump, according to his own statements, was injured by a bullet at a campaign event. "I was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear", Trump writes on his self-founded platform Truth Social.
00:33 Shots fired at Trump: Security guards escort ex-President off stageThe former US President Donald Trump was escorted off stage at a campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania by security personnel. Before that, shots were heard. In the pictures, Trump is seen with a bloody ear and raised fist.
- Despite the attempted assassination on Donald Trump, political analysts predict an increase in his chances of winning the 2024 United States Presidency Election, as suggested by Ipek Ozkardeska from Swissquote Bank.
- As the United States Presidency Election 2024 approaches, German politicians express concerns about the potential return of former President Donald Trump to the White House, recalling the divisive first term with displeasure.
