Source: CNN
Former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The FBI has identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
"The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania," the FBI stated.
CNN's Jamie Gangel attacks Trump for saying "Fight! Fight! Fight!" after someone tried to murder him.
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) July 14, 2024
Literally, she complains about what he did 5 seconds after he was shot
"That's not the message that we want to being sending right now. We want to tamp it down" pic.twitter.com/GHhU2lLI2Z
In the wake of the attack, Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita announced heightened security measures for future events. "We remain horrified at the attack," they said in a memo to staff. "We hope that this horrendous act will bring our team, and indeed the nation, together in unity. We must renew our commitment to safety and peace for our country."
The shooting occurred as Trump was on stage, surrounded by supporters. Shots rang out, causing Trump to flinch and grab the side of his face before being rushed off stage by Secret Service agents. Trump later reported that a bullet grazed his ear, causing significant bleeding but no life-threatening injuries.
A photograph captured by Evan Vucci of the Associated Press, showing a defiant Trump with blood on his ear and cheek being escorted by Secret Service agents, has become emblematic of this fraught political era.
The incident has reopened a chilling chapter in American political violence, with the targeting of a former president at a campaign rally underscoring the nation’s current tensions. Despite the attack, the Trump campaign remains resolute in its mission to reelect the former president.
"The targeting of a former president at a campaign rally just days before he accepts the Republican nomination is, by definition, an attack on democracy and the right of each American to choose their leaders," CNN's Stephen Collinson wrote in his analysis.
As the nation grapples with the implications of this violent act, Trump's campaign continues to forge ahead, undeterred in its quest for the presidency.
