World leaders have condemned the shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania in which the former US president was shot above the ear.
One rally participant was killed and two were injured.
The leaders wished President Trump a speedy recovery and stressed that any form of political violence has no place in society.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania “alarming and confrontational”.
“The events at today’s campaign event for former President Trump in Pennsylvania are disturbing and shocking. Violence has no place in our democratic process. I am relieved to hear that former President Trump is safe,” Albanese said in a post on X.
Donald Trump was onstage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when gunfire rang out and Secret Service agents stormed onto the stage, The Hill reported. Agents surrounded the Republican candidate and escorted him off the stage, his face visibly bloodied.
He raised his fist in the crowd as he was led away by police. A statement from the US Secret Service said one spectator was killed and another seriously injured and that the incident was under investigation. Hours after the shooting, Donald Trump said the bullet had penetrated the top of his ear.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife were shocked by what appeared to be an attack on President Trump and prayed for his speedy recovery.
“Sarah and I were shocked by this apparent attack on President Trump and we pray for his safety and speedy recovery,” Netanyahu told X.
British Prime Minister Starmer said he was “appalled” by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and insisted any form of political violence has no place in society.
In a statement shared on X, Starmer said: “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and my heartfelt sympathies go to him and his family. Political violence in any form has no place in our society and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
Honduran President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya voiced her support for Trump after the shooting, telling X, “Violence breeds more violence. I regret what is happening in the US electoral process. I stand in solidarity with Donald Trump.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “disgusted” by the shooting at a rally held by President Donald Trump and stressed that political violence will never be tolerated.
“I am disgusted by the shooting of former President Trump. I cannot emphasize enough that political violence will never be tolerated. My thoughts are with former President Trump, those involved in this incident, and all Americans,” Trudeau told X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “appalled” to learn of the shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. He expressed relief to hear that Trump is safe and wished him a speedy recovery.
“Astonished to learn of the shooting of former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Such violence is unjustified and has no place in the world. Violence should not be rampant. I am relieved to know that Donald Trump is safe and I pray for a speedy recovery. My condolences go to the next of kin of the rally attendees and victims of this attack. I pray for strength to all who are horrified by this incident. I hope America will come out of this stronger,” Zelenskyy posted on X.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban voiced his support for Trump after the shooting, saying, “My thoughts and prayers are with President Trump in these dark hours.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi “strongly condemned” the incident and said there was “no place for violence in politics.” He said he was “deeply concerned” by the attack on President Trump.
“I am deeply concerned by the attack on my friend, former President Donald Trump. I strongly condemn this incident. Violence has no place in politics or in our democracy. I pray for his speedy recovery,” PM Modi wrote on X.
The shooter who attempted to assassinate former US President Donald Trump has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Cooks.
Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired shots, one of which grazed President Trump’s ear, at an outdoor rally in Butler. The New York Post reported, citing sources, that suspect Thomas Matthew Cooks was hiding on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 300 feet from the stage at the Butler Farm Show.
A U.S. Secret Service sniper shot him and later recovered an AR-type rifle in Bethel Park, a village 40 miles south of the site of Trump’s rally in Butler. It is unclear what the motive was for shooting Crooks, who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting at a rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Special agents from the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office responded immediately, along with members of the Crisis Response Team and Evidence Response Technicians, the FBI said in a statement.
The FBI said it would continue to support this investigation with all of its agency’s resources and urged the public to come forward with any information they may have about the incident.
In a statement shared on X, the FBI said, “The FBI has assumed the role of lead federal law enforcement in the investigation of an incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania early today.”
“Special agents from the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office responded immediately, including members of our Crisis Response Team and Evidence Response Technicians. We will continue to utilize the full resources of the FBI to assist in this investigation, along with our partners from the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is asked to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI,” he added.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said former President Donald Trump has left the Butler area following the shooting at a rally on Saturday (local time).
In a statement posted to X, Shapiro said, “With the protection of the U.S. Secret Service and the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police, former President Trump has left the Butler area. Lori and I are grateful that former President Trump’s team has informed us that he is in good health, and we continue to pray for his full and speedy recovery. We mourn the loss of life and offer our prayers for the two victims who are currently receiving treatment.”
Trump expressed his gratitude to the police officers who responded to the incident, protected President Trump and worked to contain the situation, and said the officers would continue to lead the investigation into the shooting of President Trump.
In his X post, he further stated, “I would like to thank all law enforcement agencies who responded and worked to protect our former president and control the situation. Federal law enforcement will continue to lead the investigation into the shooting of former President Trump. Pennsylvania State Police will lead the investigation into the shooting of the other victims.”
“I am in regular contact with law enforcement on the ground in Pennsylvania and have spoken with President Biden, who has offered my full support. As we await more information from the investigation, I am mindful of how painful and shocking this incident will be for so many of my fellow Pennsylvanians. I respectfully ask that we treat our fellow Americans with respect and unite worldwide in condemning the unacceptable violence we witnessed in Butler today,” he added.
CBS News reported that the shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday (local time) that injured President Trump has heightened concerns about political violence and raised awareness of past attacks and assassination attempts against presidents and candidates.
According to CBS News, a 2008 report by the Congressional Research Service found that there have been 15 direct attacks on presidents, presidents-elect and candidates, five of which were fatal. Of the 45 people who have held the presidency, 13 have been assassinated or suffered assassination attempts. This figure does not include shootings involving Trump.