FBI identifies suspect in Trump assassination attempt

The FBI said early Sunday it had identified 20-year-old Matthew Crooks as the “subject involved” in Saturday’s assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump, one of the highest-profile acts of U.S. political violence in decades.

The law enforcement agency said in a brief statement that Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about an hour’s drive from the site of the political rally where Trump was shot in the ear while delivering a campaign speech.

The statement gave no further details about Crooks, who witnesses say opened fire with a rifle from a nearby roof outside the rally venue before being killed by law enforcement officials, reports Voice of America.

The FBI said there is an “active and ongoing investigation” into the incident, noting that anyone with information should contact authorities immediately.

At least one spectator was killed and two others critically injured in the shooting, which occurred in a large, uncovered outdoor space in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Earlier Sunday, Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office, told reporters that “it is surprising” that the gunman fired four or five times before he was shot dead.

"We do not currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” Rojek said, noting the investigation could take months.

In a social media post, Trump said he was “fine” after being shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear. Trump was released from the hospital late Saturday.

“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country,” Trump added.

Condemnations

The incident threatens to further intensify a tough presidential race and inflame rhetoric around an already tense national debate.

The event prompted President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama to issue strong statements condemning political violence.

Late Saturday, the White House said Biden had spoken to Trump - though it did not immediately give details of the conversation. The administration also said he was returning to the White House in the early hours of Sunday, instead of remaining at his Delaware home as planned.

Shortly after the incident, Biden released a statement saying, “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally.” He continued: “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

Vice President Harris also issued a statement wishing Trump well and saying, “We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”

'It's sick'

Minutes later, Biden spoke to reporters.

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” he said. “It's sick. It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

The Biden campaign also said, in a statement, that it is “pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible.”

Former President Barack Obama echoed Biden’s concerns.

“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” his statement read. “Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”

On Saturday, in a statement on social media site X, the Republican National Committee said that Trump still intended to appear at the party’s convention in Milwaukee on Monday.

'World changed'

Analysts say this is a historic event.

“This is an exceptionally dark day in America -- an exceptionally dark day in our democracy. Possibly the most serious act of political violence we've seen since 9/11 at least,” said Jacob Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

“We are talking about a serious credible assassination threat on the former leader of the free world who is actively campaigning for the presidency ... it’s really scary and frightening to think about what the next steps are in this story,” he told VOA.

“Today the world changed,” said George Washington University professor Casey Burgat.

“The attempted assassination of former President Trump will not only have profound consequences on this election but also on the broader state of American politics.

“The incident will further deepen partisan divides while also sparking a critical dialogue on the nature of political discourse and violence in modern American politics,” he added.

“There will be partisan finger-pointing about how and why this happened, but across the political spectrum, we will rightfully hear a unified rejection of all political violence. I can only hope the latter wins out.”

The shooting took place shortly after Trump took to the stage. The crowd heard several small pops similar to small-arms fire before the former president reached for the side of his face and ducked. He was immediately swarmed by his Secret Service detail and could be heard saying “let me get my shoes,” before he stood back up, a ring of agents surrounding him tightly.

Then, bleeding from his right ear, he said, repeatedly, “wait.” He then raised his right fist and gestured angrily at a spot in the middle distance and repeated the same one-syllable word three times. It appeared to be “fight, fight, fight.”

Trump’s Republican supporters quickly reacted.

Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio - considered a front-runner choice to be Trump’s vice president - tweeted: “Everyone join me in praying for our President Trump and everyone at that rally. I hope everyone is ok.”

Another VP contender, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, tweeted “God protected President Trump.”

World leaders also began to react.

“Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”

In Milwaukee, where delegates, candidates and media were preparing to descend Monday for the convention where Trump is expected to be officially named as his party’s presidential nominee, those in the thick of things sounded their frustration at the bitter state of American politics.

“I think that we need to lower the rhetoric, and the anger,” said Laura Baiger, an alternate delegate from Tennessee. “Why can't we just talk to each other? There's so much of everybody ramping and amping it up, it's just crazy. And there's no reason for it. We need unity. We need to start talking to each other. Speaking with each other, listening to each other."