Donald Trump was in the midst of a typically boisterous rally in Butler, PA, on Saturday evening, July 13, celebrating his status as front-runner for president en route to a triumphant coronation at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee when shots rang out. Eyewitnesses reported a series of pops that sounded similar to initial reports from Dealey Plaza in Dallas when John F. Kennedy was gunned down 61 years ago. After turning slightly to his right, Trump was hit flush on his right ear, saved by a millimeter or two from a direct and deadly hit to his temple, before dropping to the ground and being covered by his security detail.
As he was lifted up by his security detail, Trump raised his fist while yelling, “fight, fight,” to the shocked crowd. Trump was then rushed from the scene to a nearby hospital as the crowd shouted “USA, USA,” and was later released without life-threatening injuries. One man was killed during the assault, and two others were critically injured.
Trump Shooting Raises Uncomfortable Security Questions
The US Secret Service and law enforcement authorities responsible for Trump’s security are on the hot seat following reports from attendees at the rally who claim to have noticed the 20-year-old white male gunman now identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a local, climbing on the rooftop of a building less than 200 yards from Trump’s location toting a rifle just before the assault, and alerted nearby authorities. But no action was taken, and Trump escaped death only because of the blind luck of pivoting his head just before the shots were fired.
A stunned nation, already reeling from another divisive election season in which Trump has been deemed by the left as an existential threat to the republic, is now left to process the ultimate attempt at election interference. Joe Biden, one day after ridiculing and attacking Trump at a rally in Michigan, spoke to the nation shortly after the assassination attempt, calling Trump by his first name publicly for the first time ever. He reportedly also spoke to his opponent at the hospital.
The White House has reportedly pulled down all of its planned political ads, most of which were negative and aimed directly at Trump. And Biden, still struggling to recover from a disastrous debate and its aftermath, will now have to answer inevitable questions, whether right or wrong, regarding his overheated rhetoric and whether it led to this near tragedy. Meanwhile, Trump heads to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee starting Monday as a conquering hero who cheated death.
