An assassination attempt was made on former President Donald Trump’s life while he was speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Gunshots rang out shortly after Donald had been talking on stage in Butler, a city that is about 30 miles north of Pittsburg in Pennsylvania . The FBI named the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Below is a timeline describing the chain of events that took place at the rally.
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6:03pm: Trump walks on stage
The Republican candidate walked on stage to God Bless the USA , a Lee Greenwood song that he typically plays at the beginning of his campaign events. Trump spent time on the stage waving to the crowd until the song ended at 6:05 p.m.
6:11pm: Shots are fired
Shots were fired as Trump was speaking about the increase in border crossings under President Joe Biden ’s administration. The business mogul had been motioning toward a graphic on a video board that illustrated the uptick in border crossings recently.
“That chart’s a couple of months old. If you want to really see something that’s sad, take a look at what happened–.” Before he could finish shots popped off, prompting Trump to grab his ear and neck area. He then dropped below the lectern he stood behind.
Secret Service immediately rushed the stage as more gunfire ensued, yelling, “get down, get down, get down,” as attendees can be heard screaming.
6:12pm: Trump is moved off stage
Law enforcement steps in, coming to the microphone at the lectern to give directives.
“Hold, hold,” one officer said. And another added, “On you. Ready, move! Go.”
A few moments after the shots rang out the officers helped Trump to his feet, surrounding him as they walked him off the stage. His ear was bloody and there was blood was on his face as he fist-pumped to the crowd while the agents escorted him away.
6:14pm: Trump’s motorcade leaves shortly after the shooting
Trump ’s motorcade left the rally venue just minutes after shots were fired.
6:42pm: Secret Service and the Trump campaign confirms that former president is safe
Per The Hill, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service released a statement stating that “an incident” took place at the rally and that the former president “is safe.”
Not too long after the U.S. Secret Service’s statement, the Trump campaign dropped a statement of its own, announcing Trump “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
7:24pm. Law enforcement confirms fatalities
According to the news publication, “the Butler County District Attorney told The Associated Press that the suspected shooter was dead and one rally attendee had been killed in the gunfire.”
8:13 p.m. President Joe Biden addresses the nation
The Commander-in-Chief talked on camera from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he’s located this weekend.
President Biden admitted that he was trying to connect with Trump via the phone, hoping to have a conversation with him on Saturday night.
“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” Biden said.
8:42pm: Trump opens up about the incident online
About two-and-a-half hours after the shooting incident on his social media platform Truth Social. He thanked law enforcement, sharing his condolences for the attendee who was killed and revealing that he was shot in the ear.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead,” Trump posted. “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
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9:37pm: Trump's staff hail his survival on X
Trump's Director of Communications Margo Martin shared a video of Trump walking down the stairs of his private jet seemingly tiredly as he had a Secret Service agent behind and ahead of him on X, formerly Twitter.
“Strong and resilient. He will never stop fighting for America,” Margo wrote on the social media platform.
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