Former President Donald Trump was hastily removed from the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania today after a shooting occurred. In a social media post, Trump said: He was injured when the bullet penetrated the top of his right ear.
The Secret Service said Trump was now safe and his campaign said he had been tested at a local hospital. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., told CBS News’ Robert Costa that his father was “doing fine.”
The US Secret Service confirmed 2 people died The shooter and one spectator were killed, and two spectators were seriously injured.
“U.S. Secret Service agents neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased,” the agency said.
Reporters heard multiple gunshots and Secret Service agents rushed to the stage. Video taken by CBS News showed Trump touching his ear and crouching on the ground, with some blood visible on his face.
Trump was taken away in a motorcade, and he pumped his fist as he got into his SUV.
Jean J. Puskar/AP
Authorities are investigating the shooting as an assassination attempt, a law enforcement source told CBS News, and the FBI said in a statement that it was leading the investigation with the assistance of the Secret Service and state and local agencies.
Law enforcement officials told CBS News that the suspect was firing from an AR-style rifle from 200 to 300 feet away. The gunman was located on top of a shed outside the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service, law enforcement officials said.
“The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former president is safe,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
The department released more details in a second statement Saturday night.
“At approximately 6:15 p.m. on July 13th, during a campaign rally for former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, a suspected gunman fired several shots at the stage from an elevated location outside the rally venue. Secret Service agents neutralized the gunman, who is now deceased. The Secret Service swiftly took protective measures and former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed and two were seriously injured. The incident is currently under investigation, and the Secret Service has notified the FBI.”
“President Trump thanks the police and emergency responders for their swift response to this heinous incident. He is in good spirits and is being examined at a local medical facility,” the Trump campaign said in a statement. He was released from the hospital late Saturday night.
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In a post on Truth Social on Saturday night, Trump detailed what happened and described his injuries.
“I would like to thank the US Secret Service and all of Law Enforcement for their swift response to the shooting that occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most of all, I would like to express my condolences to the family of the person who died at the rally and the family of the other person who was severely injured. I can’t believe something like this could happen in our country. We currently have no information on the perpetrator. The perpetrator has now passed away. I was shot above my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong as I heard a hiss, a gunshot and felt the bullet penetrate my skin. I was bleeding profusely and realized what was going on. God Bless America!”
A photo taken by New York Times photographer Doug Mills captured the moment a bullet whistled past Trump’s head as he spoke at a rally.
Doug Mills/The New York Times
Trump’s motorcade left Butler Memorial Hospital shortly before 9:30 p.m. local time, two sources confirmed to CBS News, and the governor said Trump left the area under Secret Service protection. It is unclear where Trump was headed. He was originally scheduled to go to his Bedminster, New Jersey, mansion before traveling to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, which begins on Monday.
“I believe the woman next to me was shot. Other people were shot as well,” Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, who was watching Trump’s speech backstage, told CBS News.
Evan Vucci/AP
Multiple witnesses Police told CBS Pittsburgh reporters that they saw a shooter on the roof and tried to call officers just before the shooting began.
Another witness, Madison Brooks, told CBS News, “I was about five feet away from him, like within sight, very close. All of a sudden I heard four gunshots and everybody yelled ‘down!’ I saw what looked like blood splatter on his face. The Secret Service barricaded him. It was really scary.”
CBS News election reporter Jake Rosen interviewed a witness, who had blood on his shirt, who said he was an emergency medical technician and had administered CPR to the victim, who had suffered a head wound.
“I heard gunshots. I thought it was firecrackers at first,” he said. “I heard someone over there yelling, ‘He’s been shot.’ He’d been shot. So I went over. I said, ‘I’m an emergency room doctor. Let me help you.’ And the guy spun around and was pinned between the benches. He’d been shot in the head. There was a lot of blood and part of his brain was there.”
The man said a helicopter would come to rescue the victim.
CBS Pittsburgh reporter Ricky Thayer reported that an emergency helicopter landed at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and one person was quickly taken to the hospital. The person’s identity and condition were not yet known. A small number of police officers were present outside the hospital, and another helicopter landed a short time later carrying a person. Later, a black SUV with police lights on pulled up next to the helipad.
The hospital later confirmed that it was treating two seriously injured patients.
Evan Vucci/AP
President Biden addressed the nation. At approximately 8:15pm ET.
“We have no place in America for this kind of violence. This is sick. This is sick,” Biden said. “This is one of the reasons we have to unite our country. We can’t allow this to happen. This can’t be tolerated.”
The reporter asked the president whether he thought this was an assassination attempt.
“I have opinions, but I have no facts,” Biden said, “so I want to make sure I have all the facts before I comment any further.”
The White House confirmed late Saturday night that Biden and Trump had spoken by phone but did not provide details about what was discussed. A Trump adviser also confirmed the two men had spoken.
In an earlier statement, Biden said, “I am glad to hear he is safe and well. As we await more information, I am praying for him, his family and all who were at the rally. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service who evacuated him to safety. This kind of violence has no place in America. We must come together as one nation to condemn it.”
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A Biden campaign official said the campaign has suspended all outside communications and is working to remove television ads as quickly as possible.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will “conduct a full investigation into today’s tragic events. The American people have a right to know the truth. We will ensure that Director of the Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle and appropriate officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation appear at a committee hearing as soon as possible.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer posted a letter inviting Cheatle to testify at a hearing on Monday, July 22.
Many politicians from both parties immediately condemned the attack.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement, “Doug and I are relieved that he was not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those injured and affected by this senseless shooting. This type of violence has no place in our country. We all condemn this abhorrent act and must do our part to prevent it from leading to more violence.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted, “As someone whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe. As more details about this horrific incident emerge, let us pray that everyone who attended the former President’s rally today is safe.”
“Violence targeting any political party or political leader is completely unacceptable,” Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, said on X. “It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States. I have been briefed on this situation. @PAStatePolice are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local partners.”
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted a photo of his father after the incident, writing, “He will never stop fighting to save America.”
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who is considered a leading candidate to be Trump’s running mate, posted on social media, “Please join Katherine and I in praying for President Trump, his family and all attending today’s rally.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the other vice presidential candidate, tweeted that he was “praying for President Trump and all who attended today’s rally in Pennsylvania.”
Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, who is also a finalist for the vice presidential nomination, posted, “Everyone please join me in praying for President Trump and everyone at the rally. I hope you are all safe.”
CBS New York Report Security has been stepped up At Trump Tower in Manhattan after the shooting at the rally.
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department said it had increased police presence across the city “out of an abundance of caution” but that there were no known threats to the area.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
Robert Costa, Pat Milton, Andy Triai, Arden Farhi, Finn Gomez and Aaron Navarro and other CBS News staff contributed to this report.
