Donald Trump said people must remain ‘defiant in the face of wickedness’ after he survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally.
TRUMP’S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
A bullet ‘pierced’ his ear before he was dragged to the ground by Secret Service agents…he was then rushed off the stage in Butler after gunshots rang through the crowd.
NUMBER OF VICTIMS
One person in the crowd was killed and two people were critically injured after an attacker fired ‘multiple shots’, said the Secret Service. The suspected gunman was killed according to Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger.
The Secret Service said the suspected shooter fired from ‘an elevated position outside of the rally venue’.
HOW IS DONALD TRUMP DOING NOW?
Spokesman Steven Cheung said Mr Trump is ‘fine’ and being checked out at a local medical facility while the former president’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr said his father ‘is in great spirits’.
Mr Trump flew back to New Jersey ahead of his spending the night at his golf resort in Bedminster.
THE ASSAILANT THAT SHOT AT DONALD TRUMP
The FBI named Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the gunman. He is alleged to have used an AR-style rifle for the attack.
The FBI has taken over the investigation and is treating the attack as an attempted assassination.
Mr Trump has said he will remain ‘resilient’ and ‘defiant’ following the incident.
TRUMP BREAKS SILENCE
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the former US president said: ‘Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.
‘We will fear not, but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness.
TRIBUTES TO OTHER VICTIMS
‘Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.
‘In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united, and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined, and not allowing evil to win.
A WORD OF ‘THANK YOU’
Mr Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law endorsement for their ‘rapid response’ and he extended condolences ‘to the family of the person at the rally who was killed and also to the family of another person that was badly injured’.
‘It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,’ he said.
