Former President Donald Trump’s Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, ended minutes into his speech with potential shots fired and an injury to his ear.
While the exact source of the shots remains unknown, multiple popping noises were heard as the former president ducked behind the podium. Clutching his bleeding ear, Trump was rushed to his motorcade behind a wall of Secret Service agents as smoke rose from an unspecified position in the bleachers.
Trump stood up and pumped a fist into the air, repeating the word “fight” as supporters chanted “U.S.A.”
Officials wearing camouflage escorted an individual off the bleachers to the left of Trump’s podium, and rally patrons were ordered to evacuate the scene as the Secret Service declared the site an active crime scene, as reported by the New York Times.
Trump campaign representative Steven Cheung confirmed the former president “is fine and being checked out at a local medical facility” in an official statement.
“There is no place for political violence in this country, period. This is not how we solve our differences,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted on X.
Gov. Ron DeSantis also showed solidarity by offering prayers to the former president and his family in a post on X.
This is a developing story.
Contact Morgan Vanderlaan at mvanderlaan@alligator.org. Follow her on X @morgvande.
Morgan Vanderlaan is a second year Political Science major and the Fall 2024 Politics Enterprise Reporter. When she's not on the clock she can be found writing, reciting, and watching theatre!
