US Secret Service said its personnel killed the suspected shooter in the assassination attempt on former United States President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Trump says he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part” of his right ear. The FBI confirm an “assassination attempt” took place against the former president. One spectator has been killed and two others critically injured in the shooting.
Trump said he is “safe” after being escorted off the stage with blood on ear and cheek after shooting.
Politicians from across the spectrum offer support to Trump, with President Joe Biden saying “there’s no place for this kind of violence” in the US.
Leading Republicans blame Biden, Democrats for Trump shooting
and presidential hopeful Senator JD Vance blamed the “rhetoric” of the Biden campaign for the “attempted assassination” of Trump.
Other leading Republicans have also sought to blame Biden and the Democrats.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman who ran for president and is also under consideration to be Trump’s running mate, said that “Biden’s inevitable ritual condemnation of political violence today… will be insufficient and irrelevant”.
“No amount of verbiage today changes the toxic national climate that led to this tragedy,” he added.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vocal Trump supporter, accused the Democrats – without evidence – of “wanting this to happen”.
“They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen,” she said.
Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Mike Collins simply said: “Joe Biden sent the orders.”
Biden and other leading Democrats have denounced the shooting of Trump and there are fears that escalating rhetoric could lead to more unrest.
