Gunshots have reportedly been fired at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania, with the former president rushed off-stage by security staff.
Trump appeared to fall to the ground as he was giving a speech. He was quickly surrounded by armed security and stayed down for around a minute.
He then rose to his feet and pumped his fist in the air, before being escorted off stage and into a vehicle. He was then driven away from the scene.
Video appeared to show blood on his ear as he was taken away. The former president appeared to be clutching the side of his head as he fell to the ground.
Trump’s campaign said he was “fine” following the incident.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
His injury was clear, on his right ear, you can see it as he’s being moved away.
But it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury, given he was conscious and asking for his shoes and able to walk off the stage with the help of the Secret Service and then bundled into an armoured SUV.
If this is confirmed to be gunshots – I can’t think what else it could be – then this is an extraordinary and close call given his ear is bleeding.
You can hear as he begins the speech a few shots. He then appears to put his hand up towards his ear and then gets down on the ground.
It will be standard procedure for someone who’s been president, a former president, someone of this stature.
They will have been told, there will be a procedure of what to do if this sort of thing happens.
From what I can gather from looking at the footage, the shots seem to have come from the left-hand side as you look at him, because people are looking over to that side. And then there is a scream a few seconds later.
What we don’t yet know is where those shots – if they’re confirmed to be shots – where they ended up and whether they did in fact hit some people in the crowd.
This is an extraordinary moment. It is many, many years since an assassination attempt if this is what it turns out to be on a president.
Ronald Reagan – there was an assassination attempt on him in the 80s – in Washington DC in the Hilton Hotel. This is developing and it is incredibly serious.
The White House said President Joe Biden had received an “initial briefing” on the incident.
Republican senator for Ohio, J.D. Vance, said in a post on the X social media platform: “Everyone join me in praying for our President Trump and everyone at that rally. I hope everyone is ok.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said: “My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump.
“I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”
Israel’s president, Benjamin Netanyahu, also shared a post on X: “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump. We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
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