On Saturday, July 13, former US President Donald Trump was shot at during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Injured in the right ear, he was doing well a few hours after the event. However, one spectator was killed and two others injured. The attacker was neutralized by the police.
The attack and its consequences
A few days before the Republican convention, Donald Trump had to be urgently evacuated from his meeting when he had just started his speech. The detonations sowed panic among the participants, and Secret Service agents quickly took the former president to safety. Trump, with a bloodied face, was seen repeatedly raising his fist in the air towards his supporters, despite his injury.
The victims of the attack
One spectator died instantly after being hit in the head, while two others were seriously injured. Their identities have not been released. A witness described the scene as chaotic, with shouting and crowd movements following the shooting.
The attacker and the reaction of the authorities
The shooter, positioned high outside the meeting grounds, was shot dead by the police. The identity of the attacker has not yet been confirmed, but the FBI said it was close to identifying him. The incident is being called an “attempted assassination” by the FBI, and Pennsylvania police said there were no other threats.
Reactions from Donald Trump and the political world
On his social network, Trump expressed his determination to continue his campaign and attend the Republican convention. He described the attack and his feelings after being injured.
President Joe Biden expressed relief that Trump was alive and strongly condemned the violence. Many other political leaders, both in the United States and internationally, also condemned the attack and expressed support for Trump.
International reactions
Reactions of support and condemnation of the attack poured in from around the world. French President Emmanuel Macron, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, and other international leaders like Viktor Orban, Justin Trudeau, Giorgia Meloni and Narendra Modi expressed their solidarity. Elon Musk also wished Trump a speedy recovery.
This attack marks a dramatic event in the American political landscape, illustrating the tensions and violence that can arise during election periods.
