Former US President Donald Trump injured in apparent assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally News
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Former US President Donald Trump injured in apparent assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally

Former US President Donald Trump was taken to a “local medical facility” Saturday after apparent gunshots rang out at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

President Trump confirmed that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of [his] right ear.” The former president also said that the shooter and a rally attendee were killed and a separate rally attendee was gravely injured. The Trump campaign emailed a statement to reporters earlier saying that Trump “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”

The US Secret Service said in an agency statement that at the rally, “a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.” The Secret Service passed information to the FBI, and an investigation is underway.

Republican US Senate Candidate Dave McCormick, who was at the rally, told POLITICO, “All the sudden shots started to crack, someone behind me appears to have been shot …There’s lots of blood, and then the Secret Service were all over President Trump.”

US political figures have united in condemning the apparent attempt on Trump’s life. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Violence has no place in our politics.” Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stated, “As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”

The incident is already serving to heighten partisan tensions in a particularly charged election season. US Congressman Mike Collins alleged that “Joe Biden sent the orders.” “The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, PA, should immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination,” Collins continued. There is no evidence connecting Biden to the shooting.

Besides the serving president, former presidents and major presidential candidates receive Secret Service protection.

This is a developing story.
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