THE NEW YORK TIMES: The former president was escorted into his motorcade at his rally in Butler, Pa., a rural town about an hour north of Pittsburgh.
Former President Donald J. Trump was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents and into his motorcade just minutes into his rally on Saturday in Butler, Pa., after a series of pops that sounded like gunshots rang out.
The exact source of the noises was unclear, but Mr. Trump’s ear appeared to be bleeding as he was rushed off the stage.
Mr. Trump had been showing a chart of numbers about border crossings, which his audiovisual staff placed on screens above the stage, when the apparent shots rang out.
The former president ducked quickly after the noises began, with the sound coming from the bleachers to the left of where he was standing at a lectern. The noises came in two groups, and smoke rose from that section of the bleachers.
As members of the crowd began screaming, Mr. Trump was tackled by Secret Service agents. Officials shouted for the crowd to duck and cover, whisking members of the news media off the press riser where they had been watching Mr. Trump’s speech.
After a brief pause, Mr. Trump rose, surrounded by a group of uniformed Secret Service members. He pumped his fist to the crowd, and then was rushed off the stage and ushered into his motorcade, which quickly left the venue, the Butler Farm Show.
A spokesman for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a statement that Trump “is safe” after “an incident occurred” at his rally in Pennsylvania. He did not provide further details. A series of pops was heard just minutes into the event. Here’s the latest. » | Michael Gold and Simon J. Levien, Reporting from Butler, Pa. | Saturday, July 13, 2024
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