Donald Trump has said he is “supposed to be dead” after being wounded in a “surreal” shooting incident at his latest campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night.
A full day after the Republican was clipped in the right ear by a sniper’s bullet, the motive of gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks remains a mystery, with investigators saying they believe he acted alone. Secret Service agents fatally shot him.
President Joe Biden has meanwhile used a rare Oval Office address to implore Americans to “cool it down” in the final stretch of this year’s election race and “resolve our differences at the ballot box”.
The president has ordered an independent security review of the attack, which also killed a bystander and critically wounded two others.
Trump is now at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to accept his party’s invitation to be its 2024 presidential nominee.
Meanwhile, the classified documents case against the former president has been dismissed by Florida judge Aileen Cannon, citing a violation of the appointments clause — that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally named to investigate the case.
Cannon was appointed by Trump. An appeal is expected.
Widow of firefighter slain at Trump rally reveals final words
The widow of Corey Comperatore, the firefighter gunned down at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday has shared his final words.
Helen Comperatore told The New York Post that he shouted “Get down!” as he sheilded the family from the bullets fired by Thomas Crooks from the roof of a nearby building.
“He’s my hero. He just said ‘get down!’ That was the last thing he said.”
She said President Joe Biden had tried to call and console the family but she didn’t want to take his call.
“I didn’t talk to Biden. I didn’t want to talk to him,” Helen Comperatore said. “My husband was a devout Republican and he would not have wanted me to talk to him.”
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 22:44
19 million watched Biden Oval Office address
According to data from Nielsen, approximately 19 million people tuned in to President Joe Biden’s primetime address on Sunday night across cable and broadcast TV networks.
The president was addressing the nation following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 22:35
Watch: Biden says mistake to use word ‘bullseye’ when discussing Trump prior to shooting
President Joe Biden sat down with Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News for an exclusive interview at the White House this afternoon.
The president said it was a mistake to use the word “bullseye” while discussing former President Donald Trump, but said to “focus on what [Trump is] doing”.
NBC has previewed the following clip, with more expected during tonight’s NBC Nightly News with the full special set to air at 9pm ET.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 22:25
Watch: Donald Trump Jr explains why his father picked JD Vance
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 22:15
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 22:05
Read the final tragic tweet of fire chief killed at Trump rally
The 50-year-old father and retired fire chief killed at Donald Trump’s rally Saturday made his final post on X just hours before he was shot dead.
Katie Hawkinson has the story.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 22:00
Watch: Trump ‘back in game’ seconds after shooting, says Don Jr
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 21:45
Trump shooter went to rifle range day before rally
Donald Trump’s would-be assassin Thomas Crooks went to a rifle range at the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in Pennsylvania on Friday, CNN reports, citing a senior law enforcement official.
On Saturday morning, Crooks went to a Home Depot and purchased a five-foot ladder before going to a gun store and buying 50 rounds of ammunition, according to the same source.
He then drove to the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 21:35
In pictures: Trump injured in rally shooting
Photos show the scene at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, before and after as the chaos unfolded.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 21:15