Following the shooting of presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally, President Barack Obama paid tribute to him and politicians around the world wished him a “speedy recovery.”
The former president was seen bleeding from his ear after being wounded in a shooting at a reelection rally in which a passerby was killed by a gunman’s bullet.
At least eight shots were fired shortly after President Trump began his speech at Butler Farm Grounds in Butler, Pennsylvania at 5pm on Saturday (10pm UK time).
The former president quickly pumped his fist in the crowd to show he was not seriously injured in the shocking bloodbath that also killed the gunman, as Secret Service agents ran onto the stage to rush him away.
Support has already poured in for the 78-year-old man, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former First Minister Liz Truss and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage all responding to the assassination attempt.
“I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and my heartfelt prayers go out to him and his family,” the prime minister posted on Twitter.
“Political violence in any form has no place in our society. My heart goes out to all of the victims of this attack.”
“The mainstream media is perpetuating a narrative of hate against my friend Donald Trump,” Farage said.
“I hope they’re proud of themselves. Terrible people.”
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“I fully support President Trump and wish him a speedy recovery,” Musk, who serves as chairman of the board of directors of X-TECH, said in a statement.
He added: “The last time America had such a formidable candidate was Theodore Roosevelt.”
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss struck a similar tone, saying: “Pray for President Trump. Pray for America.”
“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” former President Barack Obama posted.
“While we still don’t know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump was not seriously injured and should use this opportunity to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in politics.”
“Michelle and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “We are shocked by the events at President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.”
“We condemn in the strongest terms all forms of political violence and send our heartfelt prayers to President Trump and his family at this time.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy added: “The British Government condemns in the strongest terms all forms of political violence.”
“As we closely monitor the shocking developments in Pennsylvania, our thoughts and best wishes are with President Trump and all of the victims and their families.”
President Trump’s fierce political rival, Bernie Sanders, stepped up to the party line and had kind words for the former president.
“Political violence has no place,” he said. “I wish a speedy recovery to Donald Trump and anyone else who may have been affected.”
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Meanwhile, the son of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Jr. posted on X that “he will never stop fighting to save America.”
International leaders also reacted to the shooting, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying, “Sarah and I were shocked by this apparent attack on President Trump.”
“We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
The president was seen hunched over, blood coming from his ears, screams echoing from terrified bystanders, while his team said he was “Fine.”
It was later reported that President Trump was hit by glass shards from a teleprompter that broke during the shooting.
Amid the chaos, a Secret Service agent could be heard shouting, “The shooter is down.” The agency confirmed it was investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told reporters that the shooter is dead and that a bystander was also killed in the bloody incident.
The identity of the shooter and the dead bystander have yet to be confirmed, and it is unclear where the shooter fired from or what weapon was used.
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The former president was rushed to safety after footage of him pumping his fist was already circulating around the world, and Trump’s team said an update on his condition would be released in the coming days.
The Butler County district attorney confirmed to the Associated Press that the gunman was shot at the rally, and a witness told BBC investigators “blowing his head off.”
The district attorney added that a participant at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon was also killed.
As shots rang out, scenes of frenzy unfolded and Trump supporters fled the stands and the venue en masse.
Within seconds, several Secret Service agents had Trump pinned to the floor to protect him from the gunman.
Early reports said around eight to 10 shots were fired, and reporters said they heard “residual explosions” after Trump fell to the floor.
Trump then rose to his feet, pumped his fist into the crowd and chanted “USA” and “Make America Great Again.”
At the same time, he appeared to utter the words “fight” to his supporters.
Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who will face Joe Biden in November’s election, and people from all walks of life sent messages of support following the dramatic incident.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was easily passed over by Trump in the battle to become the Republican presidential nominee, said, “@CaseyDeSantis and I are praying for Donald Trump and his family.”
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, who was seen as a likely candidate to succeed President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee if he leaves office, posted that “violence has no place in our democracy.”
“My thoughts are with President Trump and all those affected by today’s rally.”
“Now is the time for all Americans who love our country to turn away from division, renounce all violence, and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family,” said independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination in 2016, posted that “God protected President Trump.”
And Vivek Ramaswami, a rival in this year’s election, said: “Pray for Trump.”