The Latest: Trump calls for unity after apparent assassination attempt
Donald Trump’s campaign says he is doing “fine” after what law enforcement officials consider an attempted murder at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials said the man who opened fire was a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania.
In a social media post, Trump said he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper portion of my right ear.” The former president was quickly removed from the stage by Secret Service agents, his ear covered in blood.
The suspect and at least one other person present are dead, a prosecutor said. The Secret Service said two bystanders were seriously injured.
President Joe Biden and political leaders from all walks of life condemned the attack. “There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”
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“I truly love our country, and all of you, and look forward to speaking to our great nation from Wisconsin this week,” he said in his social media post Sunday morning.
In the message on his social media network, former President Donald Trump also thanked “everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, because it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”
“We will NOT be AFRAID, but instead remain resilient in our faith and stand against evil,” he said.
Trump also said, “Our love goes out to the other victims and their families” and said he is praying “for the recovery of those who were injured, and that we will keep in our hearts the memory of the civilian who was killed in such a horrific manner.”
“At this time, it is more important than ever that we stand united and show our true character as Americans, remain strong and determined, and not allow evil to win,” he added.
The FBI on Sunday morning named Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The agency said the investigation is active and ongoing.
Crooks’ political leanings weren’t immediately clear. Records show Crooks was a registered Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show that he gave $15 to a progressive political action committee on Jan. 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden was sworn in.
Former President Donald Trump’s private plane landed at Newark Liberty International Airport shortly after midnight on Sunday.
Video posted by an assistant showed him stepping out, flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s anti-assault team. It was an unusually visible show of force from his security team.
Trump planned to spend the night at his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden arrived at the White House early Sunday morning after cutting short a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
The White House said he would receive a briefing from Homeland Security and law enforcement officials later in the morning on the attempted assassination of Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to attend.
The officials spoke to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been made public.
—Mike Balsam