BUTLER, Pa.—Donald Trump was less than 10 minutes into his campaign rally Saturday, going over his typical points about curbing illegal immigration, when he came close to losing his life in what authorities are investigating as an assassination attempt. “Look what happened to our country,” the former Republican president said from his lectern, gazing at a giant video screen displaying a chart he wanted to talk about.
“If you wanna really see something that’s sad, take a look at what happened—” Then, in midsentence, the sound of gunfire—pop, pop—pierced the hot air at 6:15 p.m. Eastern time.
Trump put his hand to his right ear and dove to the floor of the elevated stage he was speaking from. “Get down, get down, get down,” a U.S.
Secret Service agent shouted, as his colleagues rushed to Trump to blanket his body with their own. Shrieks and screams filled the rally site, a fairground some 35 miles north of Pittsburgh. A shooter was firing from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
Witnesses and law enforcement said he was on a roof. A Secret Service sniper, on another roof, was seen over Trump’s shoulder as he spoke. The sniper peered into the scope of his rifle and fired back.
Surrounded by agents, Trump was led away. “Wait, wait, wait,” he said from the stage, raising his fist and pumping it several times, blood dripping from his ear and face. The crowd behind him stood up, cheering.
Others remained crouched, terrified in the unfolding chao.
