Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear while speaking onstage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening. The incident is under investigation as an assassination attempt by a shooter on a roof near the rally site.
The Secret Service confirmed in a statement that the shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed, and two other spectators were injured.
After the initial shots rang out around 6:15 p.m. ET, Trump collapsed to the ground. Secret Service agents quickly swarmed the stage, forming a protective shield around him as the crowd erupted in screams.
Moments later, the agents helped Trump to his feet. He addressed the crowd, visibly gesturing and pumping his fist before being swiftly escorted to a waiting vehicle offstage.
Speaking from Rehoboth Beach on Saturday evening, Biden stated he had been “thoroughly briefed” on the incident and was attempting to contact Trump directly.
Biden declared, “There is no place in America for this kind of violence—it’s simply reprehensible. This is precisely why we must come together as a nation. Such acts cannot continue; we cannot accept or condone this behavior.”
The incident occurred just as Trump was preparing to receive the 2024 presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention the following week.
A law enforcement official and a police officer at the scene reported that the shooter was stationed on a rooftop just beyond the venue where Trump’s rally was being held, to the right of the stage. The area was heavily patrolled by law enforcement.
Social media videos captured the alleged shooter lying motionless on the building’s roof. This individual has been identified by several law enforcement sources as a sniper, although further details remain unclear.
According to the Secret Service, the shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from a raised position outside the rally area. The agents on site responded by neutralizing the shooter, as confirmed in an official statement.
Later that evening, Trump discussed the incident on Truth Social, expressing gratitude toward the Secret Service and law enforcement for their quick action.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I heard a whizzing sound and felt the bullet tear through my skin, followed by significant bleeding. I then understood the gravity of what had occurred. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Trump shared.
Authorities are investigating the shooting as a potential assassination attempt.
Rep. Dan Meuser, alongside Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick and Rep. Mike Kelly, witnessed the event from the front row. Meuser said a spectator who was fatally wounded was situated just 20 feet behind them.
Meuser described the immediate aftermath: “There was immediate screaming for medical help in what quickly became a bloody and chaotic scene.”
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger reported that his chief detective had informed him the shooter was positioned on an adjacent building and likely used a rifle, given the distance of several hundred yards.