Biden orders independent security review of deadly Trump rally

Thanks for watching our Euronews live blog. For more information, read our in-depth stories on our homepage.

A shooting at Donald Trump ’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, law enforcement officials say.

FBI Director Christopher Wray says authorities “will leave no stone unturned” in their investigation of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

In a call with reporters Sunday, Wray called the shooting an “attack on democracy and our democratic process.”

A crew was power-washing the front of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company on Sunday with plans to install memorial drapery to honor the slain former chief, Corey Comperatore.

Assistant Chief Ricky Heasley of Sarver, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembers him as very outgoing and full of life.

“He never had a bad word,” Heasley said.

A GoFundMe launched to support Comperatore’s family had already surpassed more than $180,000 in donations as of Sunday.

The FBI says it is investigating the Trump rally shooting as an attempted assassination and also an act of domestic terrorism.

The gunman was not previously on the radar screen of the FBI. He’s believed to have acted alone.

The FBI defines domestic terrorism as acts inside the U.S. that are intended to intimidate or coerce civilians or influence government policy.

Former President Donald Trump says he’ll travel to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Republican National Convention.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he was going to delay his trip after Saturday’s apparent assassination attempt, but decided he cannot “allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”

President Biden said he’s directed an independent review of the security at the rally Saturday where a gunman apparently tried to assassinate Donald Trump.

Biden said he has also directed the U.S. Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention which begins Monday in Milwaukee.

Biden urged Americans not to make assumptions about the motive of the shooter, who was killed by U.S. Secret Service. He says they’re working swiftly to investigate the incident.

“Unity is the most elusive goal of all,” he added, while urging the public to strive for it.

In an appearance Sunday on the “Today” show, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said it’s time to “turn the temperature down in this country.”

But Johnson also singled out for blame the “media,” President Joe Biden and “Hollywood elites, as culpable for the charged atmosphere and suggested that “no figure in American history” since Abraham Lincoln has been as vilified as Donald Trump.

Johnson specifically pointed to recent comments by Biden during a recent call with political donors in which the president said “It’s time to put Trump in the bullseye.”

The man who was killed at a rally for former President Donald Trump was Corey Comperatore, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Comperatore was a former fire chief from the area who loved his family, Shapiro said.

“Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night,” the governor said.

US Rep. Mark E. Green, the chairman of the House homeland security committee, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday raising questions about the Trump rally shooting and demanding information about the former president’s Secret Service protection.

“The seriousness of this security failure and chilling moment in our nation’s history cannot be understated,” Green wrote in the letter.

Posting on X, Melania Trump also called on her "fellow Americans" to "ascend above the hate."

In a screenshot of a statement about the assassination attempt on her husband, she wrote: "A monster who recognized my husband as an inhumane political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion."

Law enforcement block a street in Bethel Park, Pa., that they say had a residence of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected shooter of former President Donald Trump.

Police also found explosives in the suspect's car, according to people briefed on the investigation.

Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press investigators believe the weapon was bought the father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who’s been identified as the shooter, at least six months ago.

The officials said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Crooks obtained the gun and gather additional information about him as they worked to try to identify a possible motive.

The father of the suspect involved in Saturday failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump says he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on”. Matthew Crooks, told reporters he was waiting to talk to law enforcement before speaking about his son. 

Trump’s senior campaign advisers have thanked the Secret Service and all first responders for their efforts.

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the senior advisers to the GOP candidate said Trump was in great spirits and doing well.

The memo also said staff in Washington and West Palm Beach, Florida, should stay away from the office as they assess those locations. “Our highest priority is to keep all of you on this staff safe,” the memo says.

Leading supporters of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have traded blames over the assassination attempt on Saturday at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Top Trump allies accused President Biden and his supporters of using language that sparked the shooting, while some Democratic party supporters questioned Trump's own rhetoric.

Let’s make one thing clear from the start: Donald Trump was the victim of a shooting in a country he has been inciting to violence for years. — Trump is neither a martyr nor a hero, he is a cause.

— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) July 14, 2024

Someone just tried to ASSASSINATE President Trump.

The Democrats and the media are to blame for every drop of blood spilled today.

For years and years, they’ve demonized him and his supporters.

Today, someone finally tried to take out the leader of our America First and the… pic.twitter.com/38cFXjQdwx

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) July 13, 2024

The U.S. Secret Service denied reports that the agency had rebuffed any recent requests to bulk up Trump’s security detail.

“This is absolutely false,” Anthony Guglielmi, an agency spokesman, said on X. “In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo.”

Former US president Donald Trump has called for unity in the country. In a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, Trump said it was more important now than ever "that we stand United". 

"We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness," the former president wrote.

Earlier, President Joe Biden urged the country to come together against political violence.

Director of the US Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle will provide testimony on July 22 over the shooting incident. Cheatle was summoned by the Oversight Committee of the US House of Representatives. In a social media post, the - the main investigative board panel stated, "Americans demand answers about the assassination attempt of President Trump."

Asked whether there was anything about the venue that made it particularly difficult to secure, State Police Lt. Col. Bivens on Saturday deferred to the Secret Service. Bivens said he wouldn’t speculate when asked “how close a call” it was for Trump.

The three men on Trump's shortlist for vice president—North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and Ohio Senator JD Vance—all swiftly released statements expressing their concern for Trump.

Today is not just some isolated incident.

The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs.

That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.

— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 14, 2024

The gunman at the Trump rally was fatally shot by the Secret Service. He is seen lying on his stomach in this footage shared on X.

The suspect who has now been identified as Thomas Mathew Crooks attacked from an elevated location outside the rally venue at a farm show in Butler, Pennsylvania.

He peered through an iron scope from a roof in this clip. People below him scream out in panic amid shots that rang out. 

Trump’s campaign has said the presumptive GOP nominee was doing “fine” after the shooting, which he said pierced the upper part of his right ear.

The former US president flew to New Jersey after visiting a local Pennsylvania hospital, landing shortly after midnight at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Video posted by an aide showed the former president deplaning his private jet flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter assault team, an unusually visible show of force by his protective detail.





Thomas Mathew Crooks was identified by the FBI in an early Sunday morning statement as a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, which is approximately 35 miles south of Butler, the location of Trump's speech.

A local media report and a video of his school's ceremony indicate that Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.

Based on information related to the 20 year old in public records, matching his name, age, and a Bethel Park address that police were seeking Saturday night, he was registered to vote as a Republican.

He would have been eligible to vote in his first presidential election this year.

President Joe Biden, who is running against Trump, was briefed on the incident and spoke to Trump several hours after the shooting, the White House said.

Biden cut short a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to return to Washington

“There’s no place in America for this type of violence,” the president said in public remarks. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”

The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.



Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump was on stage at a campaign rally, on Saturday, showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when gunfire began after 6:10 p.m.

As the first pop rang out, Trump said, “Oh,” and raised his hand to his right ear and looked at it, before quickly crouching to the ground behind his lectern.

The people in the stands behind him also crouched down as screams rang through the crowd. Someone could be heard near the microphone saying, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents rushed to the stage. They piled atop the former president to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, as other agents took up positions on stage to search for the threat.

Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. A woman screamed louder than the rest. Afterward, voices were heard saying “shooter’s down” several times, before someone asked “are we good to move?” and “are we clear?” Then, someone ordered, “Let’s move.”

Trump could be heard on the video saying at least twice, “Let me get my shoes, let me get my shoes,” with another voice heard saying, “I’ve got you sir.”

US president Joe Biden arrived early Sunday after cutting short a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The White House said he would receive a briefing from Homeland Security and law enforcement officials on the attempted assassination of Trump later in the morning.

Vice President Kamala Harris was also to attend.

Heads of state worldwide have reacted with shock and condemnation following the violent incident at President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which officials are investigating as an assassination attempt. The event, which saw one spectator dead and several others injured, has sparked a wave of international solidarity and concern.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was among the first to express his support, tweeting, "My thoughts and prayers are with President @realDonaldTrump in these dark hours."

My thoughts and prayers are with President @realDonaldTrump in these dark hours. 🙏

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 13, 2024

The British leader wrote, "My thoughts are with all the victims of this attack and I believe that political violence in any form has no place in our societies."

I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally and we send him and his family our best wishes.

Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 14, 2024

Asked if law enforcement did not know the shooter was on the roof until he began firing, Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Pittsburgh field office said, “that is our assessment at this time.”

“It is surprising” that the shooter was able to get off as many rounds as were fired, Rojek said. He added that “all the details of that will come out later investigation.”

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler

President Joe Biden spoke in a press briefing roughly three hours after the shooting. He said “everybody must condemn” the suspected assassination attempt.

Former lawmakers and presidents including Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as the foundation set up by 99-year-old President Jimmy Carter, were also appreciative that the outcome wasn’t worse.

Several of Trump’s fellow party members sent well wishes and prayers. Trump’s possible running mates — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance — also sent statements

The FBI early Sunday identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue, a farm show.

The shooter had fired multiple shots from “an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement.

Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation said the shooter was engaged by members of the U.S. Secret Service counterassault team. The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party nominees and is meant to confront any active threats while other agents focus on safeguarding and evacuating the person at the center of protection.

Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, released a statement Saturday evening that Trump was fine and being looked at at a medical facility.

Trump also released a statement on his Truth Social platform thanking the Secret Service and all law enforcement.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

Trump also extended his condolences to the family of the person killed at the rally.

Trump flew to New Jersey after visiting the Pennsylvania hospital, landing shortly after midnight at Newark Liberty International Airport

The FBI named Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt.

The agency said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Some media reports in the US say that the 20-year-old suspect was a registered Republican who had previously made a small contribution to a Democratic-aligned group.