Former President Donald J. Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he had been shot with a bullet during his rally in Butler, Pa. He described hearing a whizzing sound, shots, and feeling the bullet rip through the skin of his right ear.
The incident occurred just minutes into his speech, and Mr. Trump was quickly taken off the stage with blood visible on his ear and face. He expressed his shock at the situation, stating that he realized what was happening when he saw the extent of the bleeding.
In his post, the former president offered his condolences to the family of the person who was killed at the rally, as well as to the family of another individual who was injured. He also thanked the United States Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift response to the shooting.
While officials have not publicly confirmed that Mr. Trump was shot in the ear, they have acknowledged that shots were fired, the former president is safe, and the shooter has been killed. The details surrounding the incident and the identity of the shooter remain unclear.
Michael Gold, a political correspondent for The Times, covers the campaigns of Donald J. Trump and other candidates in the 2024 presidential elections. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.