By Emmanuel Nduka
Former US President Donald Trump was rushed offstage by the Secret Service during a rally in the swing state of Pennsylvania on Saturday after what sounded like gunfire was heard from the crowd.
The Republican nominee for president crouched after the noises were heard and was escorted to his motorcade by armed agents with blood visible on his right ear and streaking his cheek.
Ex-president Trump reportedly pumped his fist before being put into a vehicle, while it remains unclear where he was taken.
Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign, said: Trump was “fine” and “being checked out at a local medical facility”.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” Cheung added.
“An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe,” Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi posted on X. “This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting current and former presidents.
The incident happened just minutes after the former president began speaking at a rally of supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania, a rural town in the north-west corner of the state. Trump rallies are usually subject to airport-style security, run by the Secret Service in conjunction with local authorities.
Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, said he had been “briefed on the situation” and that state police were on the scene of the rally and working with federal and local authorities.
The White House said US President Joe Biden, who is currently in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, had received an “initial briefing” on the incident.
A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
The incident happened just days before the start of the Republican National Convention, when Trump is set to formally accept his party’s nomination for president.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House, said on X that he was “praying for President Trump”. Others, including Trump’s former vice-president Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, a former secretary of state, expressed similar sentiments. Elon Musk, owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX, said he “fully” endorsed Trump and hoped for a full recovery. “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt,” he tweeted.
Several leading Democrats echoed the support for the former president.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, said in a statement that he was “horrified by what happened” and “relieved that former President Trump is safe”, adding: “Political violence has no place in our country.”
Hakeem Jeffries, the top US House Democrat, echoed that sentiment, saying he was “thankful for the decisive law enforcement response”.
Nancy Pelosi, the veteran Democratic US Congress member, also sent “thoughts and prayers”.
International leaders also offered their support, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he was “shocked” by the attack.
