On July 13, former US President Donald Trump had addressed an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Here an assassination attempt took place at him. A gunman had fired eight shots aimed at the former president at the campaign rally. The bullet grazed the ear of Trump, killed a spectator and critically injured two others. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old spectator, is the victim who had perished from gunshots, sustaining injuries while protecting his family. The Trump assassination attempt has raised questions on the security breach.

During the incident, Trump touched his ear as the bullets had consecutively fired. He went to drop on his knees behind the podium. Within seconds, the secret service officials formed a human shield for protection. Consequently, Trump had been directed off-stage and into an SUV for safety. Amidst this, the former president emerged with a visible wound on his ear, pumping his fist in the air, and chanting “Fight” to the attendees. Authorities’ confirmation, during the Trump assassination attempt, highlights the gunman’s death by a Secret Service sniper. According to FBI sources, the gunman was operating alone, and the incident is under investigation as a possible instance of domestic terrorism as well as an attempted assassination. 

Later, on Sunday, the FBI identified the shooter’s identity as Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The shooter was 20 years old. He scaled the building and took position on the roof, almost 150 yards away from the main stage. According to the sources, police marking made him a suspicious figure. A few witnesses claimed to have seen the gunman and notified the authorities just before the shooting started. Law enforcement officials claimed he had been armed with a semiautomatic AR-style rifle. Additionally, a supposed investigation is underway to attempt to understand the plausible motive behind this act.  

Experts have pointed out the possibility that Trump would have died or suffered serious injuries if the bullet had deviated slightly to the right which highlights the severity of the threat to the former president’s life. Meanwhile many foreign leaders weighed in on the event and condemned the violent attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern for the former President on X (Formerly known as Twitter) “Deeply concerned by the attack on my friend, former President Donald Trump. I strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him speedy recovery.”  

 Furthermore, President Joe Biden addressed the nation shortly after the incident on Saturday, saying “there is no place for this kind of violence in America.” Trump, who is the 45th US President, is currently running for the 47th US President in the November elections.  The Republican nominee is against Joe Biden, the current President of the United States and the Democratic nominee. Since the shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981, this attack is the most significant attempt to assassinate a president or presidential contender. Less than four months before the presidential election, it brought fresh attention to anxieties about political violence in a highly split United States.