Donald Trump Assassination Attempt
Former President Donald Trump’s speech at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening began in the same manner as countless others — with his supporters chanting “USA! USA!” and Trump applauding and pointing at the crowd before approaching the podium.
Meanwhile, approximately 150 yards north of the former president, a shooter was climbing onto the roof of a building outside the rally’s security zone, armed with an AR-style rifle. Six minutes into Trump’s address, the shooter aimed at Trump and fired.
What happened next was both miraculous and historic. The shooter, identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots, with one reportedly grazing Trump’s ear. Trump quickly ducked. Five Secret Service agents rushed to shield him as additional shots echoed across the rally site.
Forty-three seconds after the first shot, a Secret Service agent confirmed that the shooter was down. Bloodied but defiant, Trump stood up and raised his fist to signal his supporters before being escorted off the stage and into his SUV.
Tragically, at least three attendees were hit, with one person killed.
This incident, investigated as an assassination attempt, marked the first time since 1981 when John Hinckley Jr. tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan that a current or former president had been targeted. The investigation will reveal potential security lapses, including how the shooter managed to gain a clear line of sight to Trump.
Witnesses described the chaos that ensued, including suspicions about the shooter before he climbed the building, transforming a regular political rally into a crime scene.
‘Security seemed tight’
Large crowds gathered at the showgrounds in Butler, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, to see Trump at his final rally before the Republican National Convention. For weeks, the nation had been focused on Trump’s opponent and President Joe Biden’s challenges within his party.
By the time Trump arrived in Butler, the focus had shifted to the upcoming convention in Milwaukee, where he was expected to announce his running mate and accept the Republican nomination for the third consecutive time.
Supporters braved the mid-July heat, waiting for hours to hear from Trump, many wearing the familiar red “Make America Great Again” hats.
Two and a half hours before Trump took the stage, rallygoers participated in a pre-show featuring a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem sung by a teenager, and speeches from Trump’s supporters, including two congressmen and a Senate candidate.
Dave McCormick, the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, described Trump as upbeat and excited about the turnout. McCormick entered the venue through a private entrance guarded by Secret Service, who conducted a thorough security check.
“Security seemed tight,” McCormick remarked on Sunday.
Attendees passed through metal detectors to enter the rally. Local law enforcement noticed Crooks acting suspiciously near the magnetometers and alerted the Secret Service. Despite this, a local officer saw Crooks before the shooting but couldn’t engage him. Crooks was eventually spotted on the roof, pointing his gun at an officer who had to take cover.
‘This is a big, big, beautiful crowd’
Trump was initially scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. ET but was delayed. At 6:02 p.m., he walked onto the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Wearing a white shirt, dark navy suit, and his signature red hat, Trump circled the stage, clapping and pointing at the crowd.
At 6:05 p.m., he began his speech amidst chants of “USA! USA!” from the audience.
“This is a big, big, beautiful crowd,” Trump remarked, quickly shifting to criticize Biden, discuss immigration, and vow to win Pennsylvania.
He acknowledged McCormick in the crowd and promised to bring him on stage later. Just before the shooting, Trump was referring to a chart with border statistics.
‘Get down, get down, get down!’
At 6:11 p.m., Trump was six minutes into his speech when gunfire erupted. He grabbed his ear and ducked as five Secret Service agents shielded him.
Another round of shots rang out seconds later. Audio from Trump’s microphone captured the agents’ commands as they assessed the situation. Forty-three seconds after the first shot, the shooter was down.
Agents helped Trump to his feet. Bloodied, he insisted on getting his shoes before raising his fist to the crowd, signaling his resilience. He was then escorted offstage and into his SUV.
‘It was all of a sudden just chaos’
The first shots caused immediate panic. Rallygoers ducked, some in confusion, others in fear. A loud scream followed the final shot.
“It was all of a sudden just chaos,” McCormick said, describing the moment when the Secret Service shielded Trump. Behind him, people tended to a victim, trying to administer first aid.
Adding to the confusion, a tractor nearby released a massive cloud of steam after being hit by a stray bullet.
Joseph Meyn, a surgeon attending his first Trump rally, filmed the incident. He later recounted seeing the shooter and a man who had been shot in the head.
Rico Elmore, a former Pennsylvania legislative candidate, jumped over a barrier to help a wounded attendee. “Just a stranger,” he said, describing the man he tried to assist.
One rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro described Comperatore as a dedicated supporter of Trump and a beloved community member.
‘I was shot with a bullet’
Trump was taken to a local hospital. The Secret Service confirmed his safety shortly after the incident. Trump later shared details on Truth Social, describing the bullet that grazed his ear and thanking law enforcement for their response.
President Biden, attending church in Delaware at the time, was briefed on the incident. He condemned the shooting and later spoke briefly with Trump by phone, offering his well wishes.
This unprecedented event has left many questions unanswered, but it underscores the persistent threats faced by political figures and the critical importance of ensuring their safety.
