Butler, PA — Former President Donald Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday in his closest effort of the year, injecting unused hesitation into an already turbulent presidential campaign, after President Joe Biden urged Americans to make it through the final stages. “Calm down” and “try our solution” to differences at the ballot box.”
The fighters’ statements followed an attack that shook the US political system, prompting hopes of resuming at least a temporary detention in a heated presidential campaign amid celebrations at the latter’s Republican National Conference.
Until the entire moment of the shooting, the gunman’s motive remained a mystery, with investigators announcing that they believed he had committed foul play before being fatally shot by an undercover agent. Biden ordered a sovereign security review of the attack, which killed one bystander, seriously injured two others and raised questions about how a gunman was able to open fire from a rooftop like the one at a Pennsylvania campaign rally. The FBI was investigating the arrest as a possible employment of domestic terrorism.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said the upper part of his right ear was pierced by a bullet. His colleagues said he was in “very good mood” and doing well. He arrived in Milwaukee Sunday night for a conference call that begins Monday. He told the Washington Examiner that he has rewritten his tone for growth to focus more on national cohesion than Biden’s policies.
In a post on his social media website on Sunday, Trump said: “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we remain united, and show our true character as Americans, to be strong and steadfast, and to defeat evil. Don’t let him win. ,
In a prime-time address, Biden urged the public to recommit to civil debate. “There is no room in America for this kind of violence – for any violence. Sometimes. Duration. No exceptions,” he said, “We cannot allow this violence to be normalized.”
Trump spoke briefly Saturday night with Biden, whose speech on Sunday night marked the third time he addressed the shooting.
The rallygoer killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief for the area, according to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who said Comperatore “died a hero.”
“His wife shared with me that she helped him protect his family,” Shapiro said. The two injured spectators were listed in stable condition.
The FBI identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the site of the shooting.
Two law enforcement officials speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation said the gunman had his father’s AR-style rifle and was sitting on a nearby rooftop when some of the rally The people involved referred him to local law enforcement.
A local law enforcement officer climbed onto the roof and found the gunmen, who pointed a rifle at the officer. The officer walked down the stairs and the gunman rapidly fired toward Trump, officials said. Officials said that then US Secret Service gunmen shot him.
Questions are being raised as to how the gunman came so close. Kevin Rojek, agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, said “it’s unexpected” the gunman was able to open fire before the undercover agent killed him.
Officials said bomb-making materials were found inside each criminal’s car and at his home. The FBI described the units as “rudimentary”.
His motive remained unclear. The crooks were not on the FBI’s radar, and were believed to have acted alone. Investigators examined his social media accounts, but found no immediately threatening writings or posts or communications indicating any ideological motive. His family was cooperating. Relatives did not respond to messages from the AP seeking comment.
The political inclination of the miscreants was not clear. Records show he is registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show he gave $15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the day Biden was sworn in. Had taken.
The lack of a clear ideological motive deepened questions about the shooting.
Biden urged Americans to remain patient. “Please, do not make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations,” he said.
The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since the shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981. It drew new attention to concerns about political violence in a deeply polarized America less than four months before the election.
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said agents have seen increasingly violent rhetoric online since the rally, with people posing as the dead shooter online. He said the FBI is focused on upcoming political conventions in Milwaukee and Chicago.
Biden on Sunday ordered a security review of the conduct of the Republican National Convention, which is going ahead as planned. The Secret Service said it was “confident” in the security plan and that the incorrect optional adjustments were made intentionally.
Biden said the two men had a “short but nice” conversation Saturday night. Biden returned to Washington from his Delaware beach home where he met with leaders in the Senate regarding the attack.
Many Republicans accused Biden and his allies of violence, arguing that Trump’s repeated attacks on him as blackmail for sovereignty have created a toxic environment.
It is opaque whether Biden will be forced to recalibrate a campaign largely based on what Trump thinks of as sovereignty blackmail. This is a situation the United States has not experienced since Teddy Roosevelt was shot in 1912 while campaigning as a third-party candidate to reclaim white territory.
Trump was showing a chart of the number of people crossing the border when the shooting started around 6:10 pm on Saturday evening.
As the first pop sounded, Trump said “Oh”, raised his hand to his right ear and looked at her, then bowed tentatively in the grass. When the screams started, the spectators standing behind them also bowed down.
Someone can be heard on the microphone saying, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” As brokers I am in a hurry to get a degree. They piled them on to cover Trump as alternative brokers took up positions at the level looking for blackmail.
At times, voices were heard saying, “Shooter is down”, with someone asking, “Are we able to proceed?” and “Are we clear?” Someone came forward and ordered, “Let’s go.”
Trump was on his feet in the next few moments and could clearly be seen moving his blood-soaked right hand towards his face. He then raised his fist in the air and looked as if he would pledge to “fight” twice, shouting thanks and chanting “USA”. USA. USA.”
His convoy left within some time. The video shows Trump turning to the public and raising his fist just before being put into the car.
When the shooting started, “everybody went to their knees or in their crouched position,” said Dave McCormick, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, who was sitting to Trump’s right on the stage.
McCormick said, as soon as he saw Trump raise his fist, he looked over his shoulder and saw that someone had been hit in the bleachers behind the stage.
Ultimately, first responders were able to extricate the injured man, McCormick said.
Journalists heard 5-6 shots, and many people hid under tables for safety. Then the people of the society were startled by the first two-three explosions but did not panic. An AP reporter described the noise as initially sounding like fireworks or possibly a vehicle backfire.
When the sun came up, the situation was under control and Trump did not go back to talk, attendees began to stream out. Police immediately instructed everyone to leave, and undercover provider agents described the website as “a live crime scene”.
Republican Rep. Mike Kelly, who represents the area where the shooting occurred, was in attendance with his wife and grandchildren and was right behind Trump when he was injured. Kelly said he was “appalled by how and what has happened to the United States of America.”
“I just want people to tone it down,” he said. “Stop trying to blame anyone. The blame for this lies somewhere in America’s mentality.”
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Colvin, Balsamo and Worth reported from untouched York. Longhi and Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Will Weisert, Michael Biesecker, Alana Durkin Richer, Lisa Mascaro and Tara Cope in Washington and Mark Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania contributed to this file.
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