Bloodied Donald Trump survives assassination attempt in Pennsylvania

Donald Trump was hit in the ear in an assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally Saturday, in a chaotic and shocking incident set to supercharge political tensions ahead of the polarising US presidential election.

The 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood streaked across his face after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the shooter and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured.

The Republican candidate raised a defiant fist to the crowd as he was bundled away to safety, and said afterward: "I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear."

US President Joe Biden, who is set to face Trump in November's deeply polarised election, said the incident was "sick" and added that there was "no place in America for this kind of violence."

Biden later spoke to Trump, the White House said.

The FBI has identified the gunman, who was shot dead, as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to a statement cited by US media early Sunday. His motive remains unknown.

The US Secret Service said earlier that the shooter "fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally" before being "neutralised" by agents.

A video published by US outlet TMZ shows the alleged assailant lying on his belly on a sloping rooftop and aiming a rifle. A quick succession of gunshots is heard followed by screams from off-camera Trump supporters attending the rally.

"The guy has longer brown hair... and as you can see, he's carefully trying pinpoint a target from afar before pulling the trigger," TMZ reported.

Crooks lived about 40 miles (65 kilometres) from the rally venue. 

The FBI confirmed in a press conference that the shooting was being treated as "an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump."

The shooter, reportedly a registered Republican, was believed to be working alone.

His father Matthew Crooks told CNN that he was trying to establish "what the hell is going on", and would not comment until he spoke to law enforcement.

After multiple witnesses said they saw the gunman before the shooting and alerted authorities, Butler police said they had "responded to a number of reports of suspicious activity".

 

'Ripping through the skin'

Trump, wearing a red "Make America Great Again" cap, had just started speaking at his final rally before the Republican National Convention when multiple bangs rang out.

He grimaced and clutched his ear, with blood visible on his ear and cheek, then ducked to the floor as Secret Service agents swarmed onto the podium, surrounding him and escorting him roughly off the stage to a nearby vehicle.

"It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country," Trump said on his Truth Social network hours later, in remarks sure to stoke the political hostility already engulfing the United States.

"I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," Trump said.

"Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening."

He later could be seen walking unaided from his plane, though his wounded ear was not facing the camera in video footage posted by his deputy communications director. The New York Times reported that he was staying the night in New Jersey.

Police confirmed that a spectator was killed and two critically injured in the shooting, all of them male adults.

The attack sent shock waves around the world, with the leaders of Britain, Israel, China and many other countries expressing outrage. 

Biden cut short a weekend trip to his Delaware beach house to return to Washington. He will receive an updated briefing from security officials on Sunday morning, the White House said.

The attack has already stoked political tensions, with some Republicans pointing the finger at Biden and right-wing conspiracy theories flooding social media.

Possible Trump vice presidential pick J.D. Vance said Biden's "rhetoric" had "led directly" to the Trump attack.

Trump's campaign said he would still attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, after he was reported to have had a precautionary hospital checkup.

 

Screams and panic

But the convention will now be dominated by the shooting at the rally, which descended into panic, with screams ringing out after the gunshots.

"Let me get my shoes," Trump was heard saying on the microphone, as security agents helped him back to his feet.

He turned back to the crowd and repeatedly raised his fist, as well as mouthing words that weren't immediately discernible, in what instantly became an iconic image.

Agents bundled the tycoon into an SUV, as he once more shook his fist.

"We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots," said John Yeykal from Franklin, Pennsylvania, who was attending his first Trump rally. 

US political figures including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton lined up to condemn the attack and say there was no place for violence in politics.

Billionaire Elon Musk meanwhile reacted by quickly endorsing Trump.

The United States has a history of political violence, and presidents, former presidents and candidates have tight security.

Ex-president John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while riding in his motorcade, and his brother Bobby Kennedy was shot dead in 1968. Former president Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981.

 

What we know: Trump assassination attempt

Here is a blow-by-blow account of the shooting in Pennsylvania, where one Trump supporter was killed.

 

How it unfolded

Dressed in a white shirt, dark blazer and bright red MAGA cap, Trump was railing against illegal immigration when shots rang out at 6.08 pm local time (2208 GMT).

"Take a look at what happened..." he said, his words cut off by four shots in quick succession.

Trump grabbed his right ear as repeated shouts of "get down!" were heard, before a fifth and sixth shot.

The former US president crouched down behind the lectern as Secret Service agents moved in around him. Screams were heard in the crowd.

Within four seconds, further shots were fired, prompting more supporters to get down while additional agents rush to the stage.

Seventeen seconds after the first shots, a final pop was heard and a woman screamed.

Three heavily-armed members of the security forces moved onto the stage 22 seconds after the shooting started.

Secret Service agents swiftly shared instructions – such as "we're clear" and "let's move" – before they lifted up a dishevelled Trump.

Visible once more around one minute after the gunfire started, Trump said "let me get my shoes" as the agents formed a ring around him.

It's another 13 seconds until Trump raised his fist to the crowd, who responded with cheers.

As the former leader was ushered off the stage, his MAGA cap in hand, onlookers chanted "USA!"

Trump paused briefly to pump his fist in the air, before stepping off the stage.

Immediately before disappearing into an SUV and just two minutes after the assassination attempt started, Trump raised his fist once more and turned briefly towards the crowd.

As the car pulled away, heavily-armed security forces dressed in khaki fatigues moved onto the scene.

 

Trump says 'felt the bullet'

Trump gave his first account of the shooting at 8.42pm, posting on his Truth Social site.

"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump wrote.

"I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin."

The White House said US President Joe Biden was given an initial briefing on the incident by 6.50pm.

"There's no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's sick," Biden told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Shortly before 10.30pm, Biden's office said he had spoken to Trump and would cut short his beach weekend to return to Washington.

 

Shooter named

The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania's Bethel Park, according to US media.

Crooks was named by the FBI "as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump."

The New York Times, citing official records, reported that Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican, but had previously donated US$15 to a liberal voter turnout group.

The Secret Service said the shooter "fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally" before being "neutralised" by agents.

Multiple witnesses said they saw the gunman before the shooting and alerted authorities.

Trump supporter Ryan Knight said he saw the attacker on a nearby building.

"When I was sitting there, a guy said: 'Oh God, he had a gun'," Knight told journalists.

A video published by US outlet TMZ shows the alleged shooter on a rooftop while holding a rifle.

The man has long brown hair and is seen lying on his front wearing khaki clothes, according to the footage, which AFP was unable to immediately verify.

Local police said they had "responded to a number of reports of suspicious activity" but gave no further details.

The attacker was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, US media reported.

 

Victims

The gunman and a bystander were killed at the rally, while two spectators were critically wounded.

Two witnesses told US media they saw a man fatally shot in the head.

"The man beside me suffered a gunshot to the head, was instantly killed [and]... Another woman looked like she got hit in the forearm or hand," a man, whose name was only given as Joseph, told NBC News.

A second witness, who said he was an emergency doctor, said he went to help after someone shouted that a person had been shot.

"The guy had spun around, was jammed between the benches. He had a headshot here," he said, indicating a spot on his head, in comments shared widely in US media.

"There's lots of blood and he had brain matter," said the man, who was wearing a white USA T-shirt stained with blood.

 

– TIMES/AFP