Arizona politicians stunned after Trump attacked and killed in Pennsylvania

Prayers, gratitude and anger characterized the reaction of Arizona state authorities after former President Donald Trump was injured on stage at a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania.

The secret service treated the attack as an assassination.

Shots rang out at Trump’s rally in Butler on Saturday, and the Republican presidential candidate appeared to fall to the ground during his speech and was quickly restrained by Secret Service agents.

When Trump stood up, he had blood on his face and clenched his fist as he was led into a vehicle.

The former president is “doing well” and has been examined at a medical facility, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheug said in a statement. Trump flew to New Jersey on Saturday evening and was reportedly scheduled to spend the night at his residence in Bedminster.

According to the Secret Service, one spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured at the rally.

The Secret Service said the shooter fired several shots at the stage from a roof outside the venue. Secret Service agents killed the shooter.

He was identified late Saturday as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Information about the motive was not immediately available.

Trump said in a statement that he had been shot in the ear.

“I was hit by a bullet that pierced the top of my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong because I heard a whooshing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet cut through the skin. There was severe bleeding, so I realized what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Trump said on Truth Social.

The former president praised the police for their quick response to the attack and expressed his condolences to the family of the person killed at the rally and the families of those injured.

“It is unbelievable that something like this can happen in our country,” Trump said.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that he had been briefed on the shooting at Trump’s rally and said there was “no place for this kind of violence in America.”

“I am grateful to hear that he is safe and doing well. I am praying for him and his family and for everyone who was at the rally as we await further information,” Biden said. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as a nation to condemn it.”

A Biden campaign official said the president’s campaign has suspended all outbound communications and is working to pull the campaign’s television commercials as quickly as possible.

‘Catastrophic”:How Fox News and CNN reported on the shooting at a Trump rally

Reactions from politicians in Arizona

Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is running for Senate, had a similar message to Biden.

“Absolutely horrific. Political violence must never be tolerated. I hope President Trump and everyone who attended the rally are safe. I am grateful that the Secret Service and law enforcement brought the situation under control so quickly.”

Republican Rep. Paul Gosar called the attack a “heinous assassination attempt” in a written statement and said he was praying for the former president.

“I am extremely grateful to the brave law enforcement officers who are protecting President Trump, and I thank God that he is OK and will never stop fighting for the American people,” Gosar said.

“Violence is unacceptable. Law and order must prevail. Mr. President, we stand with you,” Republican Representative Andy Biggs posted on the social media platform X.

Other members of Arizona’s congressional delegation called for prayers for the president.

“Pray for President Trump,” said Republican Rep. Eli Crane. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey delivered similar messages.

Rep. David Schweikert said on X that “political violence has no place in America.”

“Joyce and I send our prayers to President Trump, his family and the family of the rally attendee who tragically died,” the Republican congressman said.

Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton said he was praying for the health and safety of Trump and those attending the rally. He hoped “the perpetrator of this cowardly act will be quickly apprehended by law enforcement” and noted that “violence of any kind is never acceptable.”

“Violence, especially political violence, is completely unacceptable. We must be role models for civic democracy and commit to the values that define us as Americans,” said independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

‘It’s sick’:Joe Biden condemns shooting at Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania

Gabby Giffords: “Political violence is terrifying”

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head at a political event in 2011, said after the incident on Saturday that she carries Trump in her heart. The Democrat is the founder of GIFFORDS, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence.

“Political violence is terrifying. I know that,” Giffords said. “I hold former President Trump and all those affected by today’s inexcusable act of violence in my heart. Political violence is un-American and never acceptable – ever.”

Senator Mark Kelly echoed his wife Giffords’ sentiments, saying, “Gabby and I are appalled by the incident in Pennsylvania.”

“No one should ever have to experience political violence – we know that firsthand. Our thoughts are with former President Trump, his family and everyone involved,” Kelly said.

Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs condemned the violence and called for justice against “the perpetrator of this heinous act.”

“Political violence is unacceptable and has no place in this country,” Hobbs said. “I am glad that former President Trump is safe. … I hope that the perpetrator of this heinous act is brought to justice quickly.”

Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda attacked President Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities in her response to the attack at Trump’s rally.

“Biden dodges cognitive tests. President Trump dodges bullets. Only one is willing to die for the future of America,” Swoboda said. “I call on all Arizonans to join us in praying for President Trump and those present.”

Later on Saturday, Swoboda retracted her original statement and called on “all Americans – regardless of their party – to join us in condemning this atrocity.” The second statement made no mention of Biden or his intellectual acuity.

“We thank God that President Trump is safe. We pray not only for him and his family, but also for the family of the rally attendee who was killed by the shooter and for the victims who are currently receiving medical treatment. We also pray for all members of the Secret Service and police who are risking their lives to protect the President and all attendees. They are heroes and showed that today,” Swoboda said.

“We are both appalled by this violence and angry that our country continues to suffer from this total failure of leadership. The world is on fire, violence is on the rise, and America has no one to steer our course. President Trump is a fighter and America needs him now more than ever,” she continued. “President Trump will never surrender and neither will the American people.”

Kari Lake, a Trump ally and Republican Senate candidate, asked for prayers for the former president. “You will never stop us,” Lake wrote, attaching a photo of Trump with blood on his face.

Jake Hoffman, a state representative and Republican National Committeeman-elect for Arizona, criticized news outlets and Democrats for their response to the shooting at Trump’s rally. Biden also took too long to comment on the attack, Hoffman said.

“They tried to kill President Trump, and today they succeeded, killing a Trump supporter. Within minutes, assassination deniers on the left, including Democratic mouthpieces at CNN, the Washington Post and USA Today, immediately began spreading misinformation and disinformation about the attempted assassination,” Hoffman said in a statement.

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