Trump shot at election rally: former Obama advisor warns of retaliation

Donald Trump was shot during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The former U.S. president was hit near his right ear while speaking on stage. After hearing the shots, Trump fell but quickly got up on his own. Secret Service agents reacted swiftly and evacuated Trump from the scene.

Two people died: the assailant and one person from the audience; there were also several others injured.

According to a statement from Trump's campaign team, his life is not in danger. The politician himself also spoke out. - I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania - reads the statement.

Brett Bruen, a former director in one of the offices of former President Barack Obama's administration, discussed the possible consequences of this incident with The U.S. Sun.

According to Bruen, this incident could bolster Trump's image as a strong leader, which could benefit him in the upcoming elections.

However, that is not all, as he also warned of the risk of retaliatory acts, especially given the rhetoric used by both sides of the political spectrum.

I think there is a real danger here that we could see retaliatory acts of violence and then the Trump campaign, those in the MAGA movement, really ought to reflect and reassess their rhetoric so as not to incite more attacks or violence - he stated.

Bruen emphasized that both Trump's team and the MAGA ("Make America Great Again") movement should reconsider their language to avoid inciting further aggression. He pointed to the need to reflect on the communication style that contributes to the escalation of political tensions in the country.

Brett Bruen noted that the Biden administration must now carefully consider its next steps. Biden's campaign may be forced to pause its activities to avoid escalating the situation. Bruen also noted that the effects of this incident could influence the dynamics of the election race, including potential changes in candidates' support.

Despite the assassination attempt, the Republican National Committee confirmed that the convention planned for next week will proceed as scheduled. A party statement emphasised that Trump looks forward to meeting with voters and continuing his campaign.