Former President Donald Trump found himself in the midst of chaos on Saturday evening when a shooting ensued at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service quickly confirmed that the gunman responsible for the act, along with at least one audience member, were dead, while two other attendees suffered critical injuries. The impact of the tragedy was palpable as Trump himself suffered an injury when a bullet struck the upper part of his right ear, prompting an immediate evacuation from the stage.
The shooting incident caught the attention of notable figures in the tech industry, with Google CEO Sundar Pichai denouncing the violence in a tweet and extending well wishes for Trump's speedy recovery. Similarly, Apple CEO Tim Cook also took to social media to express prayers for Trump's health and condemned the violent act that unfolded at the rally. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shared mixed reactions on Twitter, offering support for Trump while also criticizing the Secret Service for their perceived failure in preventing the attack.
US President Joe Biden, who spoke with Trump following the shooting, condemned the violence and expressed relief that Trump was safe. In a tweet, Biden expressed gratitude for Trump's well-being and offered prayers not only for the former president but also for the other victims and attendees present at the rally. Subsequently, Donald Trump responded to the incident on his social media platform, Truth Social, thanking the Secret Service and Law Enforcement while extending condolences to the deceased's family. Trump shared details of his own experience during the shooting, describing the moment he was hit by a bullet and the immediate realization that he was injured.