Donald Trump releases second statement following assassination attempt
Topics: Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Politics, Social Media, US News
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images/ Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Politics, Social Media, US News
Donald Trump has spoken out for a second time following an assassination attempt on his life.
Yesterday (13 July), the former president of the US was giving a speech at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania when shots rang out.
The 78-year-old was hit in the ear, two others were reported critically injured and one spectator passed away and Trump has since addressed the incident in a second statement shared to social media.
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Trump released an initial statement shortly after the incident confirming he'd been struck by the bullet in the 'upper right part of [his] right ear'.
He explained he 'knew immediately that something was wrong' upon hearing a 'whizzing sound, shots and immediately [feeling] the bullet ripping through the skin'.
"Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening," he added.
While Trump has since been released from hospital and has returned to his home in New Jersey, he wasn't the only one who was hit.
Two people in the crowd were critically injured and one was killed, the former president addressing this in more detail in a second post to his social media platform Truth Social.
In a post uploaded earlier today (14 July) Trump wrote: "Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.
"We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness.
"Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.
"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.
"I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin. DJT."
The shooter has since been named by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, from Bethel Park in Pennsylvania.
Crooks was shot dead at the rally after the shooting took place by Secret Service agents.
The investigation into the incident remains 'active and ongoing' according to the FBI.
It's been confirmed the FBI is treating the incident as an assassination attempt on Trump's life with Pennsylvania Police adding it has 'no reason to believe' there is any other existing threat from the shooting.
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