They will wait for this: Soder gives US Democratsan 'external recommendation'
"Violence is not a means of resolution," says CSU chief Markus Söder, wishing Donald Trump a speedy recovery after the attack. He assesses the consequences for the presidential campaign and gives the Democrats a tip.
8:47 PM 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. Trump announced on the online platform Truth Social that he would leave for Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon local time and not change his schedule.
8:39 PM Biden throws plans in disarray
US President Joe Biden cancels a planned trip to Texas at short notice. The White House confirmed 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.
8:11 PM 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 said at the White House and announced that he would address the American people in an official statement from the Oval Office that evening (in the German night on Monday). For the Republican Party convention, which begins on Monday, Biden also announced increased security measures. He also announced that an independent investigation into the background of the attack would be conducted. In the morning, he and his deputy Kamala Harris had been briefed by law enforcement and security agencies about the latest investigation status.
7:43 PM Live on ntv: Biden speaks out on Trump attack
US President Joe Biden speaks out on the attempted assassination of his rival Donald Trump. Biden had already spoken out a few hours after the incident on Saturday and stated, "There is no place for this kind of violence in America." 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.
7:07 PM 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 family man. Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro announced this and said he had spoken to 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 "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 Republicans in 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 crime 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 will only further confuse the already uncertain American electorate." The Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government, Michael Link also fears further political polarization in the US. "That must not happen. It's important now to maintain calm and respect. President Joe Biden did that 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 inexplicable that there were no follow-up investigations regarding the shooter and praises the Democrats for "the right reaction."
17:37 "He will never stop fighting for the salvation of America" - Trump's children speak out
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, also 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 suspected assassin, according to the newspaper and ABC News. 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," she said, who had attempted to "extinguish Donald's passion, his laughter, his inventiveness, his love of music, and his enthusiasm." Melania Trump went on to say that when she saw her husband get hit by a bullet, she realized that her life and that of her son Barron were "on the brink of a devastating change." Melania Trump also thanked her husband's security team.
16:26 "They're not behind me, they're behind you" - Trump campaign launches 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 said. "It also 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," said Chip Felkel, a Republican political analyst who is not a Trump supporter. Hours after the incident, Trump's campaign launched a fundraising appeal via text message. "They're not behind me, they're behind you," the message to voters read.
16:08 Concerns before the convention: Republicans working with 40 security agencies
Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley assured that the authorities were working intensively to ensure security at the upcoming convention in Milwaukee. They are working with 40 different security agencies, according to Whatley in an interview with Fox News.
15:44 Top advisors to Trump campaign: "If something seems strange to you, please report it immediately"
Top advisors to Donald Trump's campaign team urged caution. "We are increasing our 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 our staff," the Washington Post quoted Trump campaign advisors Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles from a joint memo. "We also 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 the security team on site."
15:24 Witnesses describe chaotic scenes at Trump attackAt Trump's campaign rally 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 attack 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. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Republican National Convention takes place from Monday to Thursday. Trump writes further, he is praying for the wounded, and keeps the memory of the slain 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 over assassination attemptNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is shocked over the assassination attempt on Trump. "I am shocked by the attempted assassination of former President Trump," he writes on Twitter. 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 shooter's shots and Secret Service shotsThe American gossip news site TMZ shows a video in which both the shooter's shots and the shots that might have saved Trump's life a few seconds later can be heard. The attack caused panic among the onlookers. The recording was made from outside the area where the rally was taking 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 Department of Homeland Security is absolutely false," said Secret-Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. In fact, the Secret Service had recently increased security measures.
Few hours after the attack on Trump, Republican Congressman Michael Waltz had said he had "reliable sources" who told him that there had been repeated requests for stronger intelligence service protection for Trump. Waltz did not provide any evidence.
11:16 Steinmeier wishes Trump swift recoveryBundespresident Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemns the attack and expresses 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 all can contribute: Let us respect violence in political discourse! Let us push back hatred and hate speech 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 towards Secret Service agents, covered in blood. Political scientist Thomas Jäger 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 assailant 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 in that moment. The shooter was soon shot himself.
09:23 Participant warned of the assailant 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 did not know what was going on. "I thought: Why is Trump still speaking, why didn't they get him off the stage? ... The next thing, five shots were fired."
09:15 Scholz condemns the attack as abhorrentBundeskanzler Olaf Scholz speaks out on X about the attempted attack on Trump: "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 took picture of possible projectileDoug Mills, a photographer for the "New York Times", apparently took a picture by chance in 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 pictures 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 suspected shooter. He 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 registered as a Republican. According to reports he donated $15 to a Democratic donation organization on Biden's inauguration day 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 member of the Republican Party in September 2021 when he turned 18.
07:46 Expert: "Secret Service needs to answer some questions"Donald Trump, as the 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 remains to be worked out how it was possible that a shooter was able to attack, despite these measures.
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", 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 strongly condemns this act of political violence", explains the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres. "He wishes President Trump a quick recovery." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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." Zelenskyy 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. Despite the name, 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 takes 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 at the stage" and had been on "an elevated position" outside the event venue. This likely refers to a roof near the rally.
06:39 Shooter is apparently 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 stated that they have not yet identified the shooter but are "close" to doing so. The shooter is dead. 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 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 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, and, according to official reports, one other person 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 any details about the conversation. On Sunday, Biden will be briefed by law enforcement agencies about the status of the investigation, the statement added.
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 the announcement in a joint statement. The Republicans are expected to gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, starting Monday to officially nominate the 78-year-old Trump as their presidential candidate.
03:54 Authorities: Shooter fired from an elevated positionDuring the attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the shooter opened fire from an "elevated position" outside the event venue, according to the Secret Service. One spectator was killed, and two others were seriously injured. Initially, there was talk of a seriously injured person.
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 wrote 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 the stage at a campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania by security personnel. Before that, shots were fired. In the images, Trump is seen with a bloody ear and raised fist.
- Despite the recent attempt on his life, former US President Donald Trump is still planning to attend the Republican Party convention in Wisconsin.
- Following the shooting at Trump's rally, President Joe Biden has announced heightened security measures for the upcoming Republican Party convention.
