The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently investigating an “assassination attempt” against former U.S. President Donald Trump, authorities confirmed. Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, stated that the shooter has not yet been identified, nor has a motive been determined in the incident, which resulted in one fatality and two injuries.
“This evening, we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. It’s still an active crime scene,” Rojek said during a press conference held in Butler, Pennsylvania, near the location of the rally where the incident occurred. State law enforcement officials referred multiple questions to the Secret Service, which was not present at the briefing. The key points disclosed by officials included that the motive remains unidentified, the suspected shooter, a male, has not been named, no additional threats have been identified following the shooting, two people were critically wounded, and one person was killed; all three were adult males. Authorities have a ‘good idea’ of the weapon used, identifying a motive is a top priority, and the investigation is expected to take months.
Trump’s plane landed at Newark airport early Sunday, according to a CNN reporter. Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino provided insights into the likely security measures at Trump’s rally, which were stringent yet evidently breached. Despite the high-level protection typically afforded to Trump, the shooter managed to inflict harm from outside the secured perimeter.
The shooting has heightened concerns about political violence in the United States. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in May found that two out of three Americans are worried about potential political violence following the November 5 election rematch between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump. President Biden condemned the violence and called for an end to such acts. He suspended all political communication, including ads attacking Trump, and stressed that everyone must denounce the violence.
Republican U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas reported that his nephew was wounded at the rally, emphasizing the personal impact of the attack on Trump’s supporters and allies. Some Republicans believe the attack was politically motivated, with U.S. Representative Steve Scalise drawing parallels to past politically motivated violence.
Witnesses recounted a horrifying scene when shots rang out at the rally. Live video footage showed Trump reacting to a bullet wound in his ear before being quickly surrounded by Secret Service agents and evacuated. Despite the chaos, Trump was seen pumping his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the words “Fight! Fight! Fight!” His campaign later confirmed that Trump was “doing well” after receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The Secret Service and FBI are leading the investigation, focusing on the shooter’s identity and motive. Initial reports indicated that the shooter used an AR-style rifle and fired from a position outside the venue’s secured perimeter. This incident has raised questions about potential security lapses at the rally, with eyewitnesses noting attempts to alert law enforcement to the presence of a possible sniper.
International leaders and organizations have also reacted to the incident. UN Chief Antonio Guterres condemned the shooting, sending best wishes for Trump’s speedy recovery. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed their concerns and condemned the violence.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the assassination attempt and identify the motive behind it. The incident underscores the increasing concerns about political violence in the U.S. and the challenges in ensuring the safety of political figures amidst rising tensions.
