Former US president Donald Trump, in his first account of being shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania today said, "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," Trump, who was not seriously injured, said on his Truth Social site.
The former President is "fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility," Trump Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
The incident took place about seven minutes into the rally in Butler, in western Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Thousands of Trump supporters were attending the rally when the shooting, which was captured live on news channels, happened. As the bangs ran out, the 78-year-old was seen ducking with the secret service surrounding him. He could be heard making a few comments on an audio feed from the stage.
Secret Service agents swarmed onto the podium, surrounded the Republican candidate and escorted him roughly off the stage, as Trump raised a fist to the crowd in defiance.
Trump said, “Let me get my shoes,” as he was escorted to the safe place.
The shocking incident happened two days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump will formally become the party's nominee.
"I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured," Trump said in his post.
"It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. 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. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA," he added.
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