A day before the Republican Party was to officially name former US President Donald Trump its nominee for the White House, he was shot at an election rally in what appeared to be an attempt on his life.
After what appeared to be the first two shots, Trump touched the right side of his face and fell to the ground. Agents from the Secret Service flung themselves toward him to shield him. The agents had him inside to guard their bodies when they arose. The right part of the former president's face looked to be bleeding. As he was escorted away, he lifted his fist into the air. He was brought to a nearby hospital to receive care.
After the shooter was shot dead, Trump gathered himself and said "Wait, wait, wait", before he started pumping his fist. Trump continued to pump his fist towards the crowd, saying "Fight." A member of the audience was then killed by the bullet while another person was grievously wounded.
Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks?
The gunman was then shot and killed. He has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania which was about 40 miles south of the Butler rally. He was reportedly in a low-rise structure outside the demonstration site, according to local authorities. After he was shot dead, the authorities recovered an AR gun from his position.
Elon Musk calls Trump "Toughest since Roosevelt"
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Sunday confirmed his full support for Donald Trump after an assassination attempt on the former US President during an election rally. In a post on his X social media platform, the tech billionaire said: "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery." Criticising the US Secret Service, Musk said the head of the Secret Service (SS) Kimberly Cheatle and the "leader of this security detail should resign". "Extreme incompetence or it was deliberate. Either way, the SS leadership must resign," he posted.
Musk also said that the last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. On October 14, 1912, former US President Theodore Roosevelt survived an assassination attempt while campaigning for the presidency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bullet lodged in Roosevelt's chest and he declined suggestions to go to the hospital immediately. Instead, he delivered his scheduled speech.