The shooting incident targeting former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump occurred on the afternoon of the 13th (local time) in Butler, Pennsylvania. It took about 10 minutes from the time Trump took the stage until the vehicle left the scene. It took 3 minutes from the sound of gunfire to him clenching his fist and exiting. This summary compiles the timeline from U.S. political media outlet The Hill, cited by Yonhap News Agency, regarding this historic event.
◆ 6:03 PM = Former President Trump took the stage as country singer Lee Greenwood's song "God Bless the U.S.A." played. He waved to the crowd gathered at the rally and stood until the song ended.
◆ 6:11 PM = As Trump began his speech and mentioned the issue of illegal immigrants, saying, "Look at what has happened (at the border)," gunshots rang out. Almost simultaneously, Trump touched his right ear with his right hand and ducked below the podium. Gunfire continued, and security personnel jumped onto the stage where Trump was. Shouts of "Get down, get down, get down" and screams from the crowd were heard.
Former President Trump is surrounded by bodyguards after the shooting. [Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]
◆ 6:12 PM = About one minute after the gunfire started, Trump stood up with the support of his security guards. The guards shouted, "Move, move." Although blood was visible on his right ear, Trump clenched his fist several times toward the audience as if to show he was okay and followed the security personnel off the stage.
◆ 6:14 PM = The vehicle carrying former President Trump left the rally site.
◆ 6:42 PM = A spokesperson for the Secret Service (SS), responsible for Trump's security, issued a statement confirming that Trump was safe. The Trump campaign also announced, "He is okay and is being examined at a local medical facility." Later, the Secret Service officially announced that the suspect who shot at Trump fired multiple rounds from a high ground outside the rally and was shot dead by security agents. They also stated, "One person watching the rally died, and two others were seriously injured."
◆ 7:24 PM = The Butler County District Attorney told the Associated Press that the suspect had died and that one rally attendee was killed by the shooting.
◆ 8:13 PM = President Joe Biden, speaking in front of cameras at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he was spending the weekend, condemned the violence and expressed hope to speak with former President Trump.
◆ 8:42 PM = About two and a half hours after the incident, former President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, "A bullet passed through the upper part of my right ear," and said, "When I heard the buzzing and gunfire, I immediately knew something was wrong and felt the bullet tearing through my skin." He extended condolences to the families of those killed or injured in the shooting and expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement. Trump, who received emergency treatment at a hospital, was later discharged.
Former President Trump arriving at New York Airport just after midnight, six hours after the shooting incident, accompanied by armed security guards [Photo by Margo Martin, Trump Advisor, captured from SNS]
◆ Shortly after midnight = Shortly after midnight, Trump's personal jet landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. A video posted on social media by his aide Margo Martin showed him disembarking the plane accompanied by armed Secret Service agents. Trump had originally planned to spend the night at his private golf club near Bedminster, New Jersey. Martin wrote, "He is strong and resilient. He will never stop fighting for America."
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