United States of America - Attempted assassination of Trump - Shock in US election campaign
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot during a campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania. The alleged shooter was reportedly killed, according to the Secret Service. One spectator was killed, two others were injured and in critical condition.
Trump spoke to the press after the attack and stated that he was hit in the ear. The attack is being investigated by law enforcement as an "attempted assassination," several US media reported concurrently.
The Secret Service stated that the alleged shooter opened fire from an "elevated position" outside the event venue. An eyewitness told a TV network that spectators had seen a armed man on the roof of a house nearby before the incident. US Media reported that investigators found an assault rifle.
On video recordings of the event in the city of Butler, gunshots could be heard. Trump put his hand to his ear and then ducked to the ground. Security personnel rushed onto the stage and shielded him. Trump then left the stage, standing upright and supported by Secret Service agents. He raised his fist in the air. It appeared that Trump had blood on his ear. The Republican had just begun his speech in Butler when the incident occurred.
Panic in the audience
Panic broke out in the audience after the incident. People were screaming. Trump supporters were evacuated from the scene. The area around the stage was cordoned off with yellow police tape and secured by heavily armed response teams.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "I was hit by a bullet that went through the upper part of my right ear. I immediately knew something was wrong because I heard a ringing sound, gunshots, and felt the bullet go through my head. It was a painful and scary experience. I am grateful to be alive and in good health, and I will continue to work hard for the American people."
Attack during the campaign
Trump is running for the Republican Party in the November presidential election and plans to challenge Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term. The Republican Party convention, where Trump will be officially nominated as the candidate, begins in Milwaukee on Monday. The party intends to hold the nomination convention as planned despite the attack. This was stated in a joint statement from the party and Trump's campaign team.
Biden strongly condemned the attack on Trump. "I am relieved to hear that he is in safety and doing well," read a written statement. "I pray for him and his family, and for all those who were at the rally, as we wait for more information." This kind of violence has no place in America.
Biden spoke to the press in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he was staying over the weekend. "This is disgusting, this is disgusting," Biden said to the cameras. Later, he phoned Trump. The contents of the conversation were not disclosed initially. The White House announced that Biden would return to Washington earlier than planned.
Politicians condemn violence
US Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the attack and warned against further violence. "We all must condemn this heinous act and contribute to ensuring it does not lead to further violence," Harris wrote on Twitter.
Some high-ranking representatives from both parties condemned the attack, among them former President Barack Obama and democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The republican chairman of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, wrote on the platform X, expressing support for Trump. The democratic minority leader of the chamber, Hakeem Jeffries, expressed similar sentiments on X. "America is a democracy," he wrote there. "Political violence in any form is never acceptable."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also shared on X that he was shocked by the incident and relieved that Trump was okay. "Political violence has no place in our country."
The political atmosphere in the US has been heated for years. The US Department of Justice lamented at the beginning of the year an "alarming increase in threats" against public officials and democratic institutions in the country. The presidential election on November 5 is the first since the unprecedented violent clashes surrounding the 2020 election, which ended in an unprecedented violent outburst. At that time, Trump refused to accept his election loss to Biden and stirred up his supporters with fraud allegations for months. Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, the American Parliament and the heart of US democracy, on January 6, 2021, in a violent attack that left several people dead.
Political violence against high-ranking politicians has been a recurring phenomenon in the US. In 1865, US President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the theater lobby in the US capital Washington while watching a comedy. James Garfield was assassinated in 1881, and William McKinley in 1901. US President John F. Kennedy was shot at on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. When President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington in 1981, his bodyguard threw himself protectively in front of him.
- The incident during the US campaign has brought the issue of political violence back into the spotlight, prompting discussions about criminality and safety at election events.
- Despite the attempted assassination, Joe Biden's campaign remains focused on the upcoming US Election 2024, with the Democratic incumbent planning to challenge Donald Trump's bid for the US-President position.
- The Republicans, being competitors in the presidential election, have also denounced the shooting weapon attack and expressed support for Trump's recovery, emphasizing their hope for a fair and peaceful electoral process.
- As the investigation into the attack continues, some question the impact of the heated political climate on shaping public discourse and encouraging criminal actions during election campaign events.
- In the aftermath of the attack, there have been calls for tighter security measures and stricter regulations on the carrying of weapons during political rallies and campaigns, to preserve the safety of candidates and supporters alike.
- The United States of America has a long history of political violence, with several US-Presidents enduring such attacks throughout its history, raising concerns about the country's democratic norms and the significance of peaceful elections.
- Anti-political violence organizations and advocates have stepped up their efforts to promote civic responsibility and non-violence among voters, as they strive to encourage peaceful debate and the upholding of democratic values during election periods.
- Amidst the violent events of the recent US Election 2020, the country pledged to strengthen its commitment to democratic principles and fair electoral processes, in a bid to avoid a recurrence of violent incidents during future elections.
- The shooting weapon attack on Donald Trump has become a unifying moment for many Americans, stirring a call for unity amidst the political divide and a shared resolve to uphold the values of democracy, peace, and civil discourse in the United States of America.
