Donald Trump arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday, set to be formally nominated as the Republican presidential candidate later this week after surviving an Assassination Attempt that has deepened the existing political divide in the U.S.
President Joe Biden ordered an investigation into how a 20-year-old man with an AR-15-style rifle was able to shoot at Trump from a rooftop on Saturday, despite Trump having lifetime protection from the U.S. Secret Service.
Read more: Donald Trump Assassination Attempt: Key Details on Rally Shooting
During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania—a crucial state for the upcoming election—Trump was shot in the right ear, leaving his face bloodied, but his campaign reported he was doing well. Trump reflected on the incident, stating, “Had I not looked away from the crowd in that moment, we wouldn’t be talking today.”
The shooting resulted in one death and two injuries before Secret Service agents fatally shot the suspect. Both Trump and Biden called for calm and unity in the aftermath.
Trump is expected to accept his party’s formal nomination at the Republican National Convention with a speech on Thursday, expressing that his message would be different following the shooting. Upon arriving in Milwaukee, he pumped his fist in the air multiple times.
Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office, stating, “There is no place in America for this kind of violence. We can’t normalize it,” and emphasized the need to reduce heated political rhetoric.
Trump and Biden spoke on Saturday night after the incident, and First Lady Jill Biden also reached out to former First Lady Melania Trump on Sunday.
As they prepare for a close election rematch, the shooting has shifted focus in the presidential campaign, which had recently centered on whether Biden, 81, should step down following a shaky debate performance on June 27.
The FBI reported no known threats to the Republican convention, which begins on Monday, while the Secret Service indicated no changes to the security plan are expected. The convention will feature speeches from rising Republican figures and highlight the party’s positions on issues such as abortion, immigration, and the economy.
Bystander killed while defending family
Authorities identified the rally attendee killed on Saturday as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore from Sarver, Pennsylvania. He died while trying to protect his family from the gunfire, according to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
“Corey was a passionate supporter of the former president and was thrilled to be there,” Shapiro stated, emphasizing that political disagreements should never be resolved through violence.
Two other individuals injured in the shooting were reported to be in stable condition on Sunday. They were identified as 57-year-old David Dutch from New Kensington and 74-year-old James Copenhaver from Moon Township.
Residents of Bethel Park, where the suspected shooter lived, expressed their shock at the incident.
“It’s surreal to think someone who attempted an assassination is from here, reflecting the intense political climate we’re experiencing,” said resident Wes Morgan, 42, describing Bethel Park as a “blue-collar area.”
While mass shootings in schools, nightclubs, and public spaces are common in the U.S., this incident marked the first shooting involving a U.S. president or major party candidate since the 1981 assassination attempt on Republican President Ronald Reagan.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that many Americans are concerned about escalating political violence, with two-thirds of respondents in a May survey expressing fears that violence could erupt after the election.
Following Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020, Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a violent riot driven by Trump’s false claims of widespread election fraud.
