Donald Trump was last night left bloodied and wounded as he was shot during a failed assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
The former President, 78, suddenly grabbed hold of his ear as loud bangs rang out and whizzed by in Butler before he ducked to the floor.
The Secret Service swarmed around him as piercing screams were heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then got to his feet with blood pouring down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted ‘fight’ while the audience shouted ‘USA’ as he was dragged off stage and bundled into a vehicle.
A member of the crowd was killed, while two others who were wounded are in a critical condition. All three are males, according to law enforcement officials.
Donald Trump raises his fist moments after being injured in a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening
This is the moment the president was injured as at least one stunned onlooker realized something had gone very wrong
Trump pumped a fist at the crowd and did not seem to severely injured as he walked on his own off the stage, surrounded by secret service
Trump had blood streaming down his cheeks as Secret Service agents put him to the floor
The former president appeared to be shot in the ear
Blood can be seen pouring from the side of the former president’s head
Kevin Rojek, the FBI officer in charge, said they had not identified a motive for what he a called ‘an assassination attempt on our former president’.
The FBI later identified the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. He opened fire from a rooftop just 130 yards from where the former president was on stage speaking to thousands of fans at 6.15pm.
Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was shot dead at the scene by US Secret Service snipers.
According to state records, Crooks was a registered Republican.
Secret Service agents could be heard shouting ‘the shooter is down’ in the ensuing chaos and the gunman was later confirmed dead.
Trump was taken to hospital for treatment before being later released.
Spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump is ‘fine’ and being checked out at a local medical facility while the former president’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr said his father ‘is in great spirits’.
Trump flew back to New Jersey ahead of his spending the night at his golf resort in Bedminster.
In a post to his Truth Social network, Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement ‘for their rapid response’.
‘I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,’ he said on social media.
‘Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.
‘I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of law enforcement, for their rapid response,’ Trump added.
‘Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
‘It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.
‘GOD BLESS AMERICA!’
Rep. Ronny Jackson revealed his nephew was shot during the assassination attempt on Trump.
Jackson, who was Trump and President Barack Obama’s White House physician, said he helped his nephew and a friend get a spot in the friends and family section close to the stage at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
He told Fox News on Saturday night that his relative was grazed in the neck and bleeding.
‘They heard the shots and everybody dropped to the ground and … he was grazed in the neck, a bullet crossed his neck and he was bleeding,’ Jackson said on Fox News. ‘This is my nephew. They were there. I set them up. They went to the rally.’
As Trump pumped his fist to the crowd, some were heard cheering his name and chanting ‘USA’ and ‘Make America Great Again’
The extent of Trump’s injuries are not clear, although he appeared to want to show his supporters that he was okay within seconds of being shot
Trump appeared to mouth the word ‘fight’ as he was dragged away
Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate that he was okay in an image that has since swept the globe
Donald Trump appeared to be shot in the ear as shots were fired at the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania
Trump mouthed the word ‘fight’ at supporters as blood spattered across his face
Trump is rushed and helped off stage by the Secret Service after a failed assassination attempt
A visibly bloodied Trump is carried off stage before he is bundled into a vehicle and taken to hospital
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said he was told by detectives that the gunman was on the roof of a building adjacent to the event, and the shooting ‘would have required a rifle’ as it ‘was several hundred yards’ away.
The identity of the dead bystander have not yet been confirmed. An AR-style rifle was recovered at the scene.
In an image that has already gone around the world, Trump was pictured repeatedly pumping his fist with blood dripping from his face while being swarmed by Secret Service agents.
Moments later, he was rushed away to safety.
A stunned witness, named only as Greg, told the BBC he saw the would-be assassin climb onto the top of a building outside the event, and that he was bewildered by the lack of action from agents.
He said: ‘I’m thinking to myself, why is Trump still speaking, why have they not pulled him off the stage? The next thing you know, five shots ring out.’
After the gunman opened fire he saw the Secret Service ‘blow his head off,’ the man said.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump said his thoughts are with the family of the rally attendee who was killed as he offered details of the shooting
Trump grabbed at the side of his head as he appeared to be hit
Secret Service raced to the stage to protect Trump after shots were fired
Trump’s campaign said he was raced to hospital after the shooting, but is ‘fine’
As he was rushed into SUVs, Trump again flashed a fist at his supporters
Trump supporters cowered for safety in the stands as chaos took hold
President Biden said in a statement that American ‘must unite as one nation’ in response to the horrific scenes.
‘I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well,’ the White House said in a statement.
‘I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.’
In a press conference later in the evening, Biden described the incident as ‘sick’, and said there is ‘no place in America for this kind of violence.’
‘I hope I get to speak to him tonight,’ Biden said of his 2024 opponent.
Donald Trump Jr shared a post of his bloodied father with his fist clenched on X, captioned: ‘He’ll never stop fighting to save America.’
Other well-wishers have already rushed to support Trump with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former PMs Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage among those reacting to the assassination attempt.
The Prime Minister posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and we send him and his family our best wishes.
‘Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.’
President Biden said at a press conference that there is ‘no place in America for this kind of violence’
Trump reacted quickly as a number of shots flew at him at the Pennsylvania rally
Witnesses hug after seeing the assassination attempt
The Secret Service said in a statement it ‘has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe’
Trump’s campaign said in a statement that he ‘thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act’
The extent of Trump’s injuries are not clear, although he appeared to want to show his supporters that he was okay within seconds of being shot
Trump’s rallies are a heavily guarded event
Attendees point to the crowd shortly after shots rang out
Moments before, Trump was using a graphic at the rally to speak about illegal immigration
Although shots continued to be fired after Trump ducked, there are no early reports of any others injured at the rally
An emergency room doctor at the Trump rally said he performed CPR on a member of the crowd after the shooting
Mr Johnson said it was ‘a miracle that Donald Trump escaped an attempted assassination’.
Writing on X, the former Conservative prime minister added: ‘As we give thanks for his safety we are reminded once again of the tragic fragility of democracy in the face of violence and unreason.
‘Our thoughts are with the president and the Trump family.’
Mr Farage said: ‘Mainstream media have spread a narrative of hatred against my friend Donald Trump.
‘I hope they are proud of themselves. Disgusting people.’
Elon Musk, who is the chairman of X, said: ‘I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.’
He then added: ‘Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.’
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss struck a similar tone, saying: ‘Pray for President Trump. Pray for America.’
The president’s predecessor Barack Obama posted: ‘There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.
‘Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.
‘Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.’
A Downing Street spokesperson said: ‘We are shocked by the scenes at President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
‘We condemn all forms of political violence in the strongest terms and we send our best wishes to President Trump and his family at this time.’
A spokesperson for the ATF said agents from the bureau have been deployed to assist with the aftermath of the chaos.
Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., was standing front row at the rally along with Reps. Mike Kelly and GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick.
Meuser said he heard between eight to 10 shots ring out as screams rippled through the crowd, according to Fox News.
Well-wishers have already rushed in to support the 78-year-old with former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Tesla boss Elon Musk among those reacting to the assassination attempt
He added that it appeared there were multiple people in the crowd may have been impacted by the bullets and the local district attorney confirmed that at least one person is ‘believed to be dead.’
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the shocking scenes in his state.
‘Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,’ Shapiro said on X.
‘It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States. I have been briefed on the situation. @PAStatePolice are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local partners.’
An emergency room doctor at the Trump rally revealed how he performed CPR on a member of the crowd after the attempted assassination.
‘I heard the shots. I thought it was firecrackers begin with. Somebody over there was screaming ‘he’s been shot he’s been shot,” said the man who had blood splattered all over his white USA shirt. ‘So I made my way over. I said I’m an emergency department physician. Let me help you.’
‘The guy had spun around was jammed between the benches and a head shot here. There’s lots of blood and he had brain matter,’ he told CBS News.
