Melania Trump breaks her silence on attempted assassination of husband Donald at Pennsylvania rally
Melania Trump has broken her silence on the shooting of her husband Donald Trump by a would-be assassin and the horror of realizing her and her son Barron’s lives were about to undergo “devastating changes.”
The former first lady called the shooter a “monster” and described the moment she saw the bullet hit her husband’s ear at a rally in Pennsylvania in front of thousands of his adoring fans.
“A monster that my husband recognized as an inhuman political machine sought to express Donald’s passion — his laughter, ingenuity, love of music and inspiration,” Melania said in a statement Sunday morning on X.
“As I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized that my life, and Barron’s, were about to be changed in a devastating way. I am grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officers who risked their own lives to protect my husband.
‘This morning, rise above the hatred, venom and naive ideas that fuel violence.
“The winds of change have come. For those of you who are crying out for support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached across the political divide – thank you for remembering that every politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.”
Melania Trump has broken her silence on the shooting of her husband Donald Trump
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman, was photographed for the first time Sunday morning, just hours after he was shot dead by the Secret Service.
The registered Republican and 2022 high school senior opened fire on the former president with an AR-style rifle from a rooftop 450 feet from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, at 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
Photos surfaced Sunday morning of Crooks wearing glasses, braces and a T-shirt with the American flag in a yearbook photo, just hours after he tried to take out the presumptive Republican nominee and killed a member of the mob.
Trump raises his fist under the American flag, blood streaming down his face, moments after the shooting
Blood can be seen coming from Donald Trump’s ear, where he says he was shot
In unprecedented scenes of terror, Trump suddenly grabbed his ear and fell to the ground as gunshots rang out and the crowd panicked.
Moments later, he stood up, raised his fist and shouted “fight, fight, fight” as the Secret Service escorted him into a motorcade and then to the hospital.
Last night, a bomb squad and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at an address registered to Crooks. Officers were standing guard in front of the yellow police tape.
One member of the crowd was killed in the fatal shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are men, law enforcement officials said.
Trump was bloodied and injured during the assassination attempt. He was seen suddenly grabbing his ear as loud bangs rang out and passed by, then diving to the ground.
The Secret Service gathered around the 45th President of the United States as piercing screams could be heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then stood up, blood streaming down his cheek, raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted “fight” as the crowd chanted “USA” as he was dragged off the stage and forced into a vehicle.
Mr Rojek said no motive had yet been found for what he called “an attempted assassination of our former president”.
According to public court records from Pennsylvania, Crooks had no criminal history, and authorities say they are still trying to determine the motive behind the shooting.