Trump 'looks forward' to RNC after assassination attempt
Just days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, former President Donald Trump was rushed from a stage in Pennsylvania Saturday evening after gunshots rang out as he was speaking to supporters.
He left the stage with blood on his ear and cheek but was confirmed to be "fine" by a Trump spokesperson.
The FBI is investigating the shooting as an attempted assassination.
The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage. The shooter was "neutralized" by the Secret Service and died. A spectator was also killed and two other spectators are in critical condition, according to the agency.
Trump is scheduled to formally accept the nomination to run for a second term in the White House during the RNC on Thursday evening at Fiserv Forum.
Whether there will be any changes to schedules or security for the RNC, which officially begins Monday in downtown Milwaukee, was not clear Saturday evening.
The Trump campaign released a statement late Saturday saying: "President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States. As our party's nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again."
A spokesperson for the RNC's host committee told the Journal Sentinel there were "no changes planned at this time" for the committee's convention welcome party scheduled for Sunday at the Summerfest grounds at Henry Maier Festival Park.
Reince Priebus, chairman of the host committee, said in a statement that "President Trump is in my prayers after surviving this assassination attempt, and noted that "guests have already begun to arrive in Wisconsin, and we look forward to working with the Republican National Committee to welcome everyone to Milwaukee this week."
Gunshots at Trump rally raise questions for RNC Security
Milwaukee city and police officials did not immediately respond or did not have information early Saturday evening about how shooting would impact RNC security.
Milwaukee police referred questions to the Secret Service.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service couldn't be reached for comment.
Republican National Convention spokespeople did not answer their phones Saturday evening but directed a reporter to a statement from Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung, which was also posted on X by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.
The statement said: "President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he and his staff were in contact with those coordinating security for the RNC and "will continue to be in close communication as we learn more about this situation."
Extremism expert weighs in on shooting ahead of RNC
Jon Lewis, a research fellow for George Washington University's extremism program, says the incident will likely inflame Trump supporters on the far right.
An Associated Press photo from the shooting shows a bloodied Trump, his fist in the air.
“You cannot overstate how powerful this imagery is,” Lewis said.
“The right-wing online ecosystem is already calling this a Democratic attack on Trump, saying that their followers need to be ready to fight,” he said.
Internet personality and founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk’s post on X said the shooting was "the end result" of rhetoric from the left. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also took to X to blame “the Democrats and the media” for Saturday’s events, also while calling supporters to action.
Lewis said it’s too early to know exactly how the RNC will be affected.
“But the call to fight is a message that these right-wing groups will respond to in their local communities and within their states, even if not at the national level,” Lewis said.
Wisconsin, Milwaukee officials condemn shooting at Trump rally
Evers and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, both Democrats, condemned the shooting at Trump's rally.
In a post on X, Evers wrote, "My thoughts are with President Trump and all of the folks attending today’s rally in Pennsylvania. Thank you to the first responders who acted quickly, putting themselves and their safety at risk in order to respond to a horrific act of violence and keep people safe."
Evers also posted: "We cannot be a country that accepts political violence of any kind—that is not who we are as Americans."
Johnson said in a statement that "There’s no space, absolutely none, for this sort of violence in America. ... We must demand peace, whether it is in the political sphere or in homes and neighborhoods everywhere."
Delegates in town for RNC, locals react to shooting
Damaris Perez and Melanie Collette were eating at Carson’s Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue, and told the staff to turn on the TV when they heard there'd been a shooting at Trump's rally.
“I’m so upset right now,” said Collette, a Cape May County Commissioner in New Jersey and delegate at the convention.
Perez said she was shocked this kind of incident would happen in America.
“We should have different opinions, different political affiliations but it should never resort to violence,” said Perez, a resident of Franksville in Racine County.
Perez and Collette feel that the rhetoric associated with this election has gotten dangerous.
“If you continue to say that Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy, somebody might want to put him out,” Perez said. “If you keep saying this guy is a threat to our very way of life, maybe someone want to put him out because of that, and this goes to all news media.”
Perez said she would feel the same way if it was Biden.
“I don’t want my adversaries dead or shot at,” Perez said. “I just want a fair place where we can debate ideas. We don’t want people killed. This is America.”
Collette said security at the convention might be increased.
"If there is a way to make this (area) more secure, they’re going to," Collette said. "I can’t imagine what more they can do, to be honest... security is extremely tight. It’s run by the Secret Service."
Katie Larson, manager of Carson’s, said she is “horrified that someone would try to do something so publicly.”
“Especially since it happened to a former president,” Larson said. “It makes me nervous. Definitely. It’s scary that someone would do that.”
Carson’s is right on the edge of the credentials-only hard security zone and although Larson doesn’t know how the shooting would impact security at the convention she is expecting some changes.
“The hard security zone might extend a bit which makes us unhappy, we don’t want that. We want our guests to come in,” Lason said.
This story will be updated.
Lawrence Andrea of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story.
Alison Dirr can be reached at [email protected]. Mary Spicuzza can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump 'looks forward' to RNC after assassination attempt
