The U.S. was rattled on Saturday by an apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.
A series of gunshots appeared to spark a panic at the rally, and Trump was bloodied in the process. He later said that he was shot in the ear.
I just landed and missed an assignation attempt. Holy shit. What a bad ass reaction from Trump. The election is over. He's the next president. The Dems should give up. They can't beat him now. pic.twitter.com/omtbue191d
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) July 13, 2024
The suspected shooter and one attendee were killed. Two other spectators were critically injured. Trump was escorted off the rally stage to safety.
The sports community had plenty to say about the stunning situation.
Here’s what people from the NBA world had to say:
Good luck USA!!
Buckle up…..
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 13, 2024
Wtf.
— Roy Hibbert (@Roy_Meets_World) July 13, 2024
Let’s just hope the former President is Ok and no one else was injured.
And let’s hope they catch the idiot who did this. This is not the way
And thank you to the Secret Service who put themselves in harms way to protect the former President
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 13, 2024
🙏🏾 for 🇺🇸
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) July 13, 2024
God saved the life of Donald Trump today! pic.twitter.com/BkdDB4DCDF
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) July 13, 2024
thats wild
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) July 13, 2024
I doubt the secret service would allow him to do this in plain sight for as long as he did if there was a real shooter in the crowd… I wouldn’t put it past the Tr*mp team to have staged this. His base is already using these images to glorify him. https://t.co/akM3xIhLAm
— Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) July 13, 2024
lol i mean they took pics of every assaination
— Terrence Ross (@TerrenceRoss) July 13, 2024
How could you even stage that?
— Terrence Ross (@TerrenceRoss) July 13, 2024
Get off a plane to this. What is going on…
— Kevin Huerter (@KevinHuerter) July 13, 2024
Prayers up!! Glad Trump survived for his family and americas sake.
From one believer to another may we stand for truth, love our enemies, guard our hearts, and firmly plant our faith in none other than Jesus Christ for grace and eternal life 🙏🏽
— Jonathan Judah Isaac (@JJudahIsaac) July 14, 2024
Members of the NFL world also offered plenty of reactions.
Cue up Many Men by 50 and we gonna win the presidency in a landslide
Fucking Legend of the Decade #CTESPN https://t.co/NQooMUARvL
— AB (@AB84) July 13, 2024
CANT BREAK EM🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VOCP8QXbCV
— Blake Ferguson (@blakeferguson48) July 13, 2024
It’s Over – Trump 2024 #CTESPN pic.twitter.com/9o7CsYAQEE
— AB (@AB84) July 13, 2024
Waiting on someone to post a Simpson clip saying they predicted it
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) July 13, 2024
I don’t care how much you love or hate President Donald Trump, now is not the time to play politics. Pray for him, his family and anyone else impacted by today’s shooting.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 13, 2024
🐐🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/ndjmWBiudi
— 🦅MaddMaxx🦅 (@CrosbyMaxx) July 14, 2024
Trump, the presumed Republican nominee in the upcoming election, is “fine,” according to a spokesperson.
The FBI has identified the suspected shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20. An investigation remains active into what could’ve been one of the most impactful days in U.S. history.
President Joe Biden released a statement following the chaotic scene in Pennsylvania.
“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania,” the statement read.
“I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
He also spoke to the press about the matter.
“The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. Everybody — everybody — must condemn it,” Pres. Biden says after a possible assassination attempt at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. https://t.co/3stE2Vw1kH pic.twitter.com/TpEMhYhZks
— ABC News (@ABC) July 14, 2024
The 2024 presidential election will take place in November, and the situation in Pennsylvania is the latest chapter in what has been a tumultuous journey to voting day.
While some may get caught up in the political ramifications of Saturday’s events, the fact that there was a loss of life as well as serious injuries is a tragic reality.
Trump’s future events presumably may come with adjusted security measures — and the same may go for other politicians. Crooks, the suspected shooter, was set up from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
More information on the situation will likely become available in the coming days and weeks, and it will be worth monitoring what comes of the FBI’s investigation. There remain some unanswered questions in the aftermath of everything.
