'Praying,' 'Horrified': Michigan politicians react to Trump rally shooting in Pennsylvania

Michigan Republicans on Saturday night voiced their concerns for the well-being of former President Donald Trump after he was rushed from a rally stage in Pennsylvania with blood on his face after an apparent assassination attempt.

"There's so much we don't know," said former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. "My only message is pray for the president and for the country."

Hoekstra said he had heard that the president appeared to be fine following the incident shortly after a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, got underway. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement saying the former president was "fine and is being checked out a local medical facility."

Trump is running for reelection as a Republican against President Joe Biden. Trump's nominating convention is set to begin this week in Milwaukee, with thousands of delegates on hand.

Hoekstra said Saturday evening that people he spoke to "said it sounded like a gunshot." The FBI confirmed later Saturday night that Trump was the target of a would-be assassin and that the gunman and an innocent bystander at the rally were killed.

Hoekstra served as Trump's ambassador to the Netherlands when he was president and who the former president endorsed to become Michigan's GOP chairman ahead of this year's elections.

Other Republican figures weighed in concerns and well-wishes for the former president as well. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, who Trump endorsed in the race this year for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, issued a statement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"This is a somber moment for our nation. We are praying for President Trump and all Americans today," Rogers said.

Former state Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, who is running for the open U.S. House seat for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, also posted on X, "Ashley (his wife) and I are praying for President Trump and any innocent attendees who may have been hurt at today's rally in Pennsylvania. Violence has no place in politics."

U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, who is a close ally of the former president's, posted a photo of Trump's face smeared with blood and raising his fist to the crowds, with the comment, "God Bless President Trump. We are praying for you!" U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia., wrote on social media, "Praying for President Trump and everyone at his rally today."

U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, posted several messages, beginning with one saying, "Please pray for President Trump, and all those involved, following the shooting that took place at his rally today."

He followed that up with another, posting the same photo McClain did, saying, "Bleeding from the head and his first instinct is to reassure his troops! What a hero!"

Then he posted a third, saying, "They tried to silence him. They tried to jail him. Now they’ve tried to kill him."

Several Michigan Democrats reacted as well, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is no stranger to the prospect of political violence after several men were accused and convicted of a plot to kidnap her four years ago.

"There is no place for political violence in this country, period. This is not how we solve our differences," Whitmer wrote on X. "I am horrified to learn of this news, and we will be following the situation closely. I am grateful for those in law enforcement who stepped in immediately."

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, also posted a message on X, saying, "Violence is never the answer. I am glad the former President is safe. Hoping that others in attendance at today’s rally are too."

"I am watching the news from the Trump rally and hoping for the safety of the former president," U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, who is running for the open U.S. Senate seat as a Democrat, posted on social media. "I’m thankful for the swift response from the Secret Service and law enforcement. Political violence has no place in our country and I wholly condemn it, as all Americans should."

Pennsylvania, like Michigan, is a hotly contested swing state in this year's presidential election. Trump was last in Michigan holding a roundtable discussion at a Detroit church in mid-June . Biden campaigned at a rally in Detroit on Friday night.

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Praying,' 'Horrified': Michigan politicians react to Trump rally shooting in Pennsylvania