Trump survives assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally
During Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, there was a failed assassination attempt on his life. A witness account has appeared online. “I heard gunshots and calls for help,” says one witness. Another witness recalls seeing the shooter and informing the authorities.
At the rally in Pennsylvania, several loud bangs were heard, prompting Trump to duck and take cover behind the podium. Secret Service agents immediately stepped onto the stage, and Trump was lifted up and made a fist gesture to the crowd. Photos show the candidate with blood on his face, including his right ear.
A Secret Service spokesman confirmed that "the former president is safe."
Witnesses recall the course of events
The internet quickly filled with recordings of the incident, including videos of witnesses—supporters of the former president—who were present. CBS News reporter Jake Rosen posted the account of a man who gave first aid to the injured on social media platform X.
“I heard gunshots and calls for help. The person had a gunshot wound to the head. I provided first aid,” the man says in the recording. The witness, wearing a blood-stained white T-shirt and with blood on his face, added, “I ran up, said I was a rescuer, and helped. There was a lot of blood; the injured person was lying between the benches.” He emphasised that heart massage and artificial respiration were performed on the injured person.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger later told the AP in a phone conversation that the suspected shooter is dead.
He also added that at least one rally participant was killed, and another person is in critical condition.
Another witness spoke to the BBC and pointed out that he saw the attacker climb onto a nearby roof from where he fired shots. He claims to have tried to inform the authorities about it but they did not see the attacker and did not react until after the incident.
“We did not see Trump, but we heard him. The shots were fired 5–7 minutes after the speech began,” says a supporter of the former president. The man said he alerted the authorities that he saw a man with a long gun taking position on the roof of a barn. “We told the police, pointed at him; it lasted about 3 minutes. Why wasn't there enough Secret Service on site?” he emphasised.
“The guy was there, 100%. We saw him crawling with a gun. I’m sure of it. It was a shotgun,” he noted.
“There are only a few buildings here. Why wasn't there Secret Service there? There are many questions,” he said in an interview with the BBC. The witness also saw the moment the attacker was shot.
