Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. As Trump began his speech, shots rang out, and one bullet grazed his ear. Video footage shows Trump tilting his head just seconds before the shot, which ultimately saved him. The Secret Service agents quickly swarmed and covered Trump moments after the shooting.
Slow-motion footage shows Trump moving just in time as a bullet clips his ear. pic.twitter.com/zNHPoRazzS
— David Gokhshtein (@davidgokhshtein) July 14, 2024
Behind the stage, two agents rushed to Trump’s rescue. He grabbed his right ear, noticed the blood, and dropped to his knees behind the podium before re-emerging with his face streaked with blood. Rally attendees were urged to “Fight! Fight! Fight!” by Trump, who pumped his fist in the air. The attack resulted in one fatality and two critically wounded spectators among the attendees.
Another new video POV from behind the stage moments BEFORE & after shots rang out at the Trump rally. pic.twitter.com/eO8njBARhH
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) July 14, 2024
Following the incident, Trump was taken under Secret Service protection to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The Trump campaign reported that he was “doing well” and had suffered no major injuries other than a wound on his upper right ear.
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter, a registered Republican who was killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire from a rooftop about 140 meters from the stage. An AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle was found near his body.
Trump later described the incident on his Truth Social platform, stating that the bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear, causing significant bleeding. This attack marks the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. The incident occurred less than four months before the November 5 election, where Trump faces a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.