Donald Trump Injured In Assassination Attempt; PM Modi, Other Leaders Condemn Attack

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the attack on former US President, Donald Trump, stating that violence had no place in politics and democracies.

“Deeply concerned by the attack on my friend, former President Donald Trump. Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people. @realDonaldTrump,” Modi wrote on X.

According to news reports, former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear on Saturday evening while he was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident is investigated as an assassination attempt, a CNN report cited. The shooter attacked Trump from a roof near the rally site, the report mentioned.

Reacting over the incident, the Leader of Opposition and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi, called for the ‘strongest possible condemnation of such acts.’

“I am deeply concerned by the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Such acts must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Wishing him a swift and complete recovery,” Rahul wrote on X.

1 dead, 2 hurt in the rally: Reports

After multiple gunshots were heard and one of those hitting the former President, Trump grabbed his right ear and dropped to the ground. His Secret Service agents told him to get down and rushed to the stage to protect him from further gunshots, media reports stated. One of the rally attendees was killed in the shooting, while two others were injured, according to media reports.

The CNN report stated that as the agents prepared to move Trump offstage into his nearby SUV, he asked them to wait. He lifted his fist in the air and he shouted the word “fight” three times. While saying so, he pumped his fist, reports said. The crowd then chanted “USA!”. Later he was taken to his vehicle.

“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!” Trump wrote on X.

‘No place for such violence in America’

Reports said President Joe Biden spoke to Trump over the phone. Biden, according to reports, called the incident as ‘sick.’ “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information…. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” Biden wrote on X. Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama offered support to Trump and condemned the attack.

“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. 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,” Obama wrote on X.