The Trump assassination is also affecting the stock exchange
05:56 Trump: Thinking back to the moment that saved his life
Asian stock markets are reacting with uncertainty following the attempted assassination on US Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Investors are concerned about potential implications on future US economic policy with Trump's increasing chances of winning. Bond markets saw rising yields for government bonds, which experts attribute to the expectation of possibly inflationary and debt-intensive economic policy under a Trump presidency. Additionally, stricter immigration laws could worsen the labor market and push wages up.
05:56: Trump: Thinking back to the moment that saved his life
Donald Trump reflects on the moment that possibly saved his life after the assassination attempt during a campaign event: a slight head turn that prevented a bullet from fatally hitting his head. Instead, the bullet grazed his ear. "The most incredible thing was that I not only turned around but at the exact right time and to the exact right degree," Trump told the "Washington Examiner" during a speech aboard his 757 as he flew to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. "If I had only half turned, it would have hit the back of my head. The other way goes straight through the skull. The chance of me making a perfect turn is probably less than one in ten percent, so I shouldn't be here."
05:22 Trump: Realizing it now
Following the assassination attempt at a campaign rally, Donald Trump calls for calm and unity. "This is a chance for the whole country, even the whole world, to come together," Trump told the "Washington Examiner." The incident deeply affected him. He now realizes the gravity of the situation ("Reality is just setting in"). Trump survived the attack because he turned away from the crowd at the 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 about the Trump attacker is coming to light. Besides the rudimentary explosives found in Thomas Matthew Crooks' car, the 20-year-old reportedly had potential 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, stated in a declaration. "Beyond that, the Club cannot provide any further comment on this matter due to ongoing police investigations." 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 possible Trump re-election
The German government is preparing for a possible second presidency of Donald Trump, according to its Transatlantic Coordinator Michael Link. "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 intensively networking with my expert colleagues in the 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 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 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
Following a brief campaign pause due to 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 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 in the US state 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 Still and frequently bullied: What is known about the shooter Matthew Crooks
The FBI identified the Trump attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A driver's license photo of Crooks shows 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 withdrawn. He couldn't remember hearing Crooks talk about 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 shoot in the wrong place": US Democrat fires employee for Facebook post
Democratic U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi fired an employee who posted on social media that she wished the Trump assassin had better aim. According to "New York Times," Jacqueline Marsaw wrote on Facebook: "I don't condone violence, but please take shooting lessons so you don't shoot the wrong person next time. Oops, that wasn't me who spoke." Thompson, who represents Mississippi's second district in the U.S. 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 for 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 firearms is protected by state laws, he says. At the Mega-Event, Donald Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the party's presidential candidate this week. Trump is trying to avoid giving the impression of weakness: 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
After the shooting at U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, the motive of the shooter remains unclear. "We still have no information on the motive of the shooter," says U.S. 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 U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, financial markets need to re-evaluate. The bullet that hit Trump during a campaign rally could increase his chances of winning - and therefore, investors expect the markets to focus on a steeper yield curve for U.S. 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 investment for U.S. government bonds.
22:07 Injured visitors in stable condition
The two people who were severely injured in the shooting attempt on Donald Trump are in stable condition, according to Pennsylvania police. At the campaign rally, a man from the audience was killed. The suspected shooter was shot by security guards. Trump was lightly injured, and two visitors were severely 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 stated. 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 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 alleged attacker'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 news agency PA reports. Starmer wished Trump and the other injured a quick recovery.
21:16 Soder gives Democrats an outside 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 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. The Republican presidential candidate writes on the online platform Truth Social that he will leave for Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon local time and will 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 leave for 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 government headquarters in Washington.
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 commissioned. In the morning, Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris were briefed by law enforcement and security agencies on the latest developments in the investigation.
20:07 Live on ntv: Biden comments on Trump assassination attempt
US President Joe Biden comments at this hour on the attempted assassination of his rival Donald Trump. Biden had already expressed himself on Saturday just a few hours after the incident and declared, "There's no place for this kind of violence in America." He then called Trump. Biden was informed in the morning by the heads of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service, the security service 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 event by former US President Donald Trump in the state of Pennsylvania was a firefighter and a family man. Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro made this known and said he had spoken with his wife and daughters. The man died "as a hero" and threw himself over his family to shield them when the shots fell at the Trump rally. He was a "passionate supporter" of Trump. Besides the one man in the crowd who died, two other spectators were injured. Shapiro said their condition was still critical.
19:13 Many Republicans see blame with 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 act 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. "Copycats - 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 an already uncertain American electorate." Michael Link, the Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government, also fears further political polarization in the US. "This must not happen. It's important now to maintain calm and respect. That's what President Joe Biden did with his call to Trump," says the FDP politician.
18:06 Trump supporters see confirmed conspiracy theories
The shots at Donald Trump could be decisive for the upcoming US presidential election, says 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 "the right reaction."
17:37 "He will never stop fighting for the salvation of America" - Trump's children express themselves
Donald Trump Jr.'s children are paying tribute to their father and thanking 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. Tiffany Trump thanks God in an Instagram story for her father's life. "Political violence is never the answer", she writes, thanking the law enforcement and the Secret Service and honoring the victims. "As you have seen 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 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 alleged assassin, reports the newspaper and ABC News further. It is said to be an AR-15 rifle. The rifle was developed in the 1950s, initially for the military. The AR-15 is the civilian version of this rifle. 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 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 tried to "extinguish Donald's passion, his laughter, his creativity, 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 Secret Service agents protecting her husband.
16:26 "You are not behind me, you are behind each other" - 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 confirms the belief 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 starts a fundraising appeal via text message. "You are not behind me, you are behind each other", 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, according to Whatley on Fox News, but he did not specify what precautions have been taken.
15:44 Top Advisor to Trump Campaign: "Please report anything suspicious immediately"Top advisors to Donald Trump's campaign team advise caution. "We are enhancing 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 The Washington Post the Trump campaign advisors 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 speech in Pennsylvania, gunshots were fired, causing chaos and panic. Witnesses speak of speculation 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 Truth Social platform. 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 am praying for the wounded, and we hold the memory of the fallen citizen 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 shocked 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 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 gunshots and the Secret Service's shots can be heard. The attack triggered panic among the onlookers. The recording was made from outside the area where the rally was taking 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 assertion that a member of the former President's security detail 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.
Few hours after the attack, Republican Representative 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 swift 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," Steinmeier wrote in a statement. "Violence has no place in our democracy - not in America, not with us. We all can contribute: Let us respect violence in political discourse! Let us reject hate and incitement from election campaigns and debates! Democracy tolerates sharp controversies - but violence destroys democracy. Donald J. Trump and the injured person wish a swift 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 raising his fist at Secret Service agents, covered in blood. 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 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 when 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 on-site 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 speaking, why didn't they take 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 commented on the assassination attempt against Trump: "The attempted 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 captures image of possible projectileNew York Times photographer Doug Mills apparently took a photo 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 caused by a projectile." 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 images per second. The photo was taken with a shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second.
08:00 Alleged shooter registered as a RepublicanThe FBI has identified the alleged shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks. He is from the small town of Bethel Park in the US state of Pennsylvania, about 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 was 17 years old at the time of the donation. 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 was able to 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 wrote on X, she was deeply shocked, wished Trump a quick recovery, and expressed her condolences to the innocent victim's family. "Political violence has no place in a democracy," she wrote. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed similar sentiments. "My thoughts are with former President Trump, the participants of the event, and all Americans."
The United Nations also condemned the attack on Trump. "The Secretary-General condemns this act of political violence in the strongest terms," the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. "He wishes President Trump a quick recovery." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared that he was "appalled" by the news of the attack. "Such violence has no justification and no place in the world. Never should violence prevail." Zelenskyy also wished Trump a quick recovery.
Already on Saturday evening (local time), Biden had 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. Despite its name, 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 already announced that the nomination 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, says that the suspect fired "multiple shots towards the stage" and was located "on an elevated position outside of the event perimeter." 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 doing so. The shooter is deceased. According to Pennsylvania police, it is too early to say whether it was a lone gunman. 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. According to official reports, Trump was injured in the ear, and in addition to the suspected shooter, a bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured.
03:58 Republicans plan to hold party convention despite Trump attackThe US Republicans plan to hold their nomination party in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as scheduled this week, according to a joint statement from the party and Trump's campaign team. The Republicans will gather in Milwaukee starting Monday to officially nominate the 78-year-old 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 was critically injured.
02:55 Trump: I was hit by a bullet in my earFormer US President Donald Trump claims he was hit by a bullet in his ear during the attack at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. "I was hit by a bullet that went through the upper part of my right ear," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
00:33 Shots fired at Trump: Secret Service removes ex-president from stageFormer US President Donald Trump was escorted off the stage during a campaign event in Pennsylvania after gunshots were heard. Prior to this, images showed Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist.
- With the 2024 United States Presidency Election approaching, the Trump campaign has seen a surge in donations following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, citing unity and the need to protect their candidate.
- The potential impact of Joe Biden's response to the Trump assassination attempt on the political landscape leading up to the 2024 United States Presidency Election remains a topic of discussion among political analysts and commentators.
