Bloodied but unbowed, Trump survives assassination attempt and vows to proceed with convention

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt Saturday evening at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, as bullets from a lone gunman pierced his upper right ear, killed one rally attendee and wounded two others seriously.

Trump rose to his feet as soon as the shooter was neutralized, his face bloodied, and pumped his fist in the air to signal to the audience he was OK.

Secret Service agents who dove on him to protect him moments earlier whisked him away to a hospital, where he was treated and released. Trump then jumped onto his campaign jet to return home, refusing to be bowed by the first assassination attempt of a president or former president since Ronald Reagan in 1981.

“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” Trump said in the statement he put up on Truth Social just a few hours after the incident. He thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for saving lives and mourned the loss of one of his rally attendees.

“GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Trump added as his campaign vowed to press forward with the Republican national nominating convention in Milwaukee due to start Monday.

Authorities said a 20-year-old local man from Butler, Pa., was the gunman, and was shot by a Secret Service sniper team shortly after he began firing his weapon from a rooftop building less than 200 yards from where Trump spoke.

The incident, nonetheless, raised immediate concerns in Congress that the Secret Service team protecting Trump was inadequately resourced and had allowed a gunman to get to a raised perch to fire a weapon.

The FBI said it had assumed the lead role in investigating the gunman, his potential motives, and whether any other perpetrators were involved.

The incident occurred at about 6:15 p.m. ET., when Trump had just begun to speak.

The popping sound of shots can be heard in audiotape that is followed by Trump grabbing at his ear and going to the stage floor. 

Trump, a former president, was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents and put into the back of a van that took him to a nearby medical center where he was treated.

He said later in a social media post he had survived the incident, been released from medical care and is "fine."

One person was killed and two others were wounded in the shooting. The gunman fired from a rooftop outside of the event in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to the Secret Service.

Trump, as he left the stage and then as he entered the van, pumped his fist. He could be heard in the audiotape as he was being escorted off the stage: "let me get my shoes," then "fight."

The Secret Service said at about 6:50 p.m. that the president was safe, and that an investigation into the shooting was ongoing.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife were praying for the former president and the attendees in a statement on social media.

"Kelly and I are praying for President Trump and all the attendees of the campaign rally today in Pennsylvania, and we send our gratitude to the law enforcement who responded at the scene," the speaker posted to X. "I have been briefed by law enforcement and am continuing to monitor the developments. This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned."

Other politicians, party leaders, and former presidents have also commented on the assassination attempt.

"Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life," former President George W. Bush said in a statement shared by his presidential center. "We commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response."

President Joe Biden said he has been briefed on the matter, and that every law enforcement agency was investigating the shooting. 

"I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well," he 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. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America."