Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a candidate for the upcoming November elections, has been released from the hospital after surviving a perilous assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night. A bullet grazed the upper part of Trump's right ear, narrowly missing him. U.S. Secret Service agents neutralized the attacker on the spot. One individual at the rally tragically lost their life, while two others were reported to be severely injured.
A video of the shooting at the Trump rally has gone viral online, showing Trump delivering his speech when gunfire erupts. Trump covers his ear with his right hand and ducks behind the dais. Secret Service agents swiftly reach his side. Trump then rises behind the dais, clinching his fist towards the rally attendees in a display of defiance, with blood visible on his right ear and face. Following the attack, Trump issued his first response on the social media platform 'Truth Social'.
Trump expressed his astonishment and disbelief at such an incident occurring in the country, thanking the United States Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their prompt response. He also conveyed his deep condolences to the family of the person killed at the rally and the families of the two seriously injured individuals. Trump outlined that no details about the attacker were known at that time.
Regarding the shooting, Trump stated, 'A bullet was fired that nicked the upper portion of my right ear. I heard a whistling sound, felt the shot, and instantly knew something was wrong. I realized the bullet had grazed my skin, and there was a lot of bleeding. At that moment, I wondered what was happening.' The event, which was being broadcast live on American news channels, had thousands of Trump supporters in attendance.
Spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, reported that the incident occurred around 6:15 PM local time when a suspected shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue. 'Secret Service agents acted quickly and took down the assailants. Former President Trump is safe. The incident resulted in one fatality and two severe injuries. Investigations are ongoing, and the Secret Service has notified the FBI,' Guglielmi said. The shocking event occurred just two days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Donald Trump will formally become the party's candidate.
