Former President Donald Trump's rally speech in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening began just as it had at dozens of rallies previously – his attendees chanted "USA! USA!" and Trump clapped and pointed to faces in the crowd before taking the lectern.
About 150 yards to the north of the former president, a gunman was climbing onto the roof of a building outside the rally security perimeter. He had an AR-style rifle with him. Six minutes into the former president's speech, the gunman took aim at Trump and squeezed the trigger.
What happened next was as miraculous as it was historic. The gunman, later identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots, including one that Trump said skimmed his ear. Trump ducked to the ground. Five Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and covered the former president, as the "pop-pop" from another two additional bursts of gunfire rang out across the Butler Farm Show grounds.
Forty-three seconds after the first shot was fired, a Secret Service agent said the shooter was down. Trump, his ear and face bloodied, was brought to his feet. He raised his fist in a defiant pose to his supporters to let them know he was OK before agents took him off the stage and into his SUV.
At least three rally attendees were shot, one of whom was killed.
Donald Trump has reflected on surviving his assassination attempt, saying in a new interview with the New York Post: "I'm supposed to be dead."
Trump showed the reporter a large bruise on his right forearm that he said he received when agents rushed on stage like "linebackers" to protect him.
The former president had a "loose, large white bandage that covered his right ear" during the interview and his staff said the outlet could not take any photos of him, according to the Post.
Trump addressed the photos of him raising his fist and saying "Fight!" as he had blood on his face.
Trump told the paper he wanted to keep speaking following the shooting but Secret Service insisted he go to the hospital.
Editor: CH
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