Early on at a large rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, shots rang out. Full details are not known but Donald Trump could be seen touching his right ear or side of his head and then ducking as security personnel dove on top of him and more shots were heard.
The Trump campaign has said he is “fine” and being checked out at a medical facility.
A few seconds after the shots, Secret Service officials moved to rush Trump to a vehicle and Trump could be heard saying, “Let me get my shoes.” When he stood up, blood could be seen on or near his right ear and he pumped his fist in the air and appeared to defiantly speak words to the crowd, possibly “Fight.”
He was walked to a black vehicle and continued pumping his fist and raising a hand in the air.
There are reports of others in the crowd being hit and one possibly killed.
There are reports that a shooter, or the shooter, was a man who was seen climbing on a roof with a rifle outside the perimeter of the rally. A witness says he and others alerted police but that several minutes passed and then the shots were fired. The witness says authorities shot the shooter in the head and killed him.
It’s hard to imagine that the shooter could get away after the shooting, given how much security there was present, including local cops, state police, and secret service.
If the shooter isn’t caught, it will ONLY be because someone didn’t want him/her to be caught.
From several videos, it appears that the shooter was on an AGR building adjacent to the Butler Farm Show Grounds. It appears to be about 150 yards from the stage. Dan Bongino has served on a Presidential Protection detail in the past. On a previous issue with Secret Service protection, he described how their standard protocol was to establish a security perimeter somewhat on the order of 150 yards where they verify everyone into the perimeter. They then monitor a significant distance past that zone. It will be interested to get informed opinions over the next few days.
Video appears to show the Secret Service on a roof, watching the shooter, and actually giving him a chance to squeeze off several shots before taking him out. This is going to be VERY hard for them to explain:
https://x.com/coladoggxxx/status/1812285847921910241