Today in one sentence: The shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination.

What we know about the Trump rally shooting so far:

The shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination. Trump said he was shot and hit by a bullet in the “upper part of my right ear.” His campaign said he’s “fine.” He added: “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.” As he was ushered away, Trump raised a fist to the crowd, mouthing: “Fight. Fight. Fight.” The Secret Service said the shooter, described as a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, fired “multiple shots” from an “elevated position” outside of the rally. The gunman and at least one audience member are dead, and two other attendees are critically injured. Biden condemned the attack, saying “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick […] We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this.” The FBI, which is leading the investigation into the shooting, said it’s working to identify the gunman and determine the motive. Authorities said they recovered an AR-15-type semiautomatic rifle at the scene. House Republicans also said they will “conduct a full investigation” into the shooting. Trump’s campaign said he still plans to attend the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin in Milwaukee on Monday. There have been 327 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2024 so far. (New York Times / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / The Guardian / Bloomberg / Reuters / CNBC / Politico / BBC / Wall Street Journal / ABC News / Axios / CBS News / NPR / The Guardian / CBS News / ABC News / NBC News / CNN / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times)

  • 📌 Day 617: 5% of Americans – roughly 13 million adults – agree that the use of force is justified to restore Trump as president. About 3.32% of Americans – 8.5 million adults – said they would participate in the use of force to restore the Trump presidency. (CBS News)

✏️ Notables.

  1. A Nation on Edge Fears an Election Careening Toward an Ugly finish. “A nation barely removed from the violent end to the 2020 election, which included several deaths tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, has since been whipsawed by a cascade of jolts to the system. A House speaker ousted. A former president, Trump, indicted on criminal charges four times, only to win his party’s nod to reclaim the White House. A presidential debate only two weeks ago that found the commander in chief, Joe Biden, significantly compromised in his ability to express thoughts and recall words. Now, America is faced with the realization that political violence has struck at a moment when the nation is on the cusp of deciding its next president.” (Wall Street Journal)

  2. Trump rally shooting comes amid rise in support for political violence. “Research shows more Americans support violence to stop a second Trump presidency than back violence in his favor.” (The Guardian)

  3. American Stares Into the Abyss After Trump Assassination Bid. “To all intents and purposes America’s two tribes were already at war. But a shot had not been fired. Until now.” (Daily Beast)

  4. In the Wake of the Trump Shooting, We Need Clarity—and Caution. “The best way to fend off conspiracy theories and instability is by emphasizing the need for solid facts.” (The Nation)

  5. America is not ready for what comes next. “The attempt on Donald Trump’s life has put the republic in peril.” (Vox)

  6. A Terrible New Era of Political Violence in America. “In this fragile moment, the nation desperately needs prudent and wise leadership.” (The Atlantic)

  7. Trump Rally Shooting Marks Dark Day in American Politics: ‘It Was Mayhem’ (Wall Street Journal)

  8. Trump’s Bloodied, Defiant Image After Shooting Pumps Up His Base. “His supporters, many of whom viewed him as a movement figure and martyr long before the violence on Saturday, seized on the photos as a metaphor for the former president’s resiliency.” (Bloomberg)

  9. Trump allies immediately blame Biden, Democrats for their rhetoric. “Supporters argued that Democratic portrayals of Trump as a threat to democracy led to the violence, though the shooter’s motive was not apparent at the time of their remarks.” (Washington Post)

  10. Trump’s most loyal Congressional allies immediately blamed Joe Biden for Saturday’s assassination bid against the former president–with one claiming: “Biden sent the orders.” “In a series of posts on social media, loyalists including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert sought to link the sniper’s attack to language used by Biden.” (Daily Beast)

  11. Trump’s Raised Fist Will Make History — And Cement His Legacy. “In wake of shooting, GOP officials are quick to blame Democrats for demonizing the former president.” (Politico)

Two years ago today: Day 540: "Everything is in play."
Four years ago today: Day 1271: "Highest risk."
Six years ago today: Day 540: Unwelcome.