Texas Leaders Condemn Shooting at Trump Rally
Sid Miller, the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, was present at the rally and
expressed confidence that Trump would be fine and continue to the Republican
National Convention.
MILWAUKEE — Leaders from both political parties in Texas voiced their
outrage and support for former President Donald Trump after a shooting at a
campaign event in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The U.S. Secret Service swiftly escorted Trump off the stage at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, after gunshots were fired. There were visible streaks of blood on the former president's ear. After being transported to safety, Trump disclosed on social media that he had been shot in the upper right ear.
Longtime Trump supporter Sid Miller was present at the event, standing roughly 30 feet away from the president.
“It looked like the first maybe three shots missed him and he was turned
looking towards me. Then one grazed his ear and he got down,” Miller recounted
in a brief interview with The Texas Tribune. Miller stated that Trump would be
fine and was confident he would continue to the national convention as planned.
Miller, who had been accompanying Trump through swing states before the
convention, said he was unharmed.
According to the Associated Press, the suspected shooter was killed, and
another rally attendee also died. The shooting is being investigated as an
attempted assassination.
In the aftermath of the chaos, Texas leaders took to social media to express
their reactions.
“What a horrible and scary situation unfolding. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan wrote on social media, "Please join me in praying for President Trump and everyone at the event right now. "First responders and law enforcement are appreciated by President Trump for their prompt response during this horrific act. He is being examined at a nearby medical institution and is doing great. A statement from Steven Cheung, the spokesperson for the Trump campaign, promised more details.
Many of Trump’s staunch supporters condemned the violence on social media.
“The world is evil. God be praised for President Trump's independence in leaving. I'm hoping for full recovery and quick apprehending of this individual. Ken Paxton, the attorney general, wrote.
“This is horrific, wrong, and evil. Thank God he appears not to be seriously
injured,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz posted. “Heidi and I are lifting President Trump
up in prayer right now.” “They try to jail him. They try to kill him. It will
not work. He is indomitable,” Gov. Greg Abbott posted.
The White House disclosed that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the
situation. Biden stated that he was "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. We are appreciative to the Secret Service for securing his safety, Jill and I. This kind of violence has no place in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it," Biden's statement
continued.
Biden later mentioned at a news conference that he planned to speak to Trump, who was with his doctors at the time. That "everyone must condemn" the shooting was stressed by the president. In response to a question about whether he thought it was an attempt on his life, he said, "I have an opinion, but I don't have any facts."
The event happened just as Republicans were getting ready to convene in Milwaukee for their national party convention, where they intend to choose Trump as their nominee for the upcoming presidential contest. At the convention, Trump will also announce his running mate.
The attack is likely to cast a shadow over the rest of the convention — the
first of its scale since 2016 when Trump was first nominated for presidency.
The 2020 convention was drastically scaled down due to the pandemic. Several
Texans, including Abbott and Cruz, will be speaking at the convention.
As the Secret Service hurried the president off the stage, he insisted on
returning to the lectern to raise his fist in a show of strength. The image of
him doing so in front of an American flag became a rallying cry for
Republicans, with several posting it on social media.
“And Trump’s chances of losing just went to zero,” U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw
posted with a picture of Trump raising his fist.
