By Matthew McDonald, Diego López Marina
Former US President Donald Trump held his hand to his right ear after hearing loud noises at a rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon and was later seen with blood on his face. Various American Catholic leaders asked the country to unite in prayer following the news.
“The former president is safe,” the United States Secret Service reported in a statement. The incident took place around 6:20 pm (local time) in the city of Butler, Pennsylvania, shortly after the Republican candidate’s rally began.
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Secret Service agents protected Trump as he appeared to be lying on the stage floor. Trump stood up and raised his fist before being removed by law enforcement officers. Blood could be seen on the right side of his face and an apparent wound on his ear.
Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications of the Secret Service, confirmed on Saturday night that “an alleged shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally site.” “Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who died,” he added.
“The United States Secret Service responded quickly with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. Unfortunately, one spectator lost his life and two were seriously injured. The incident is being investigated and the Secret Service has formally informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” concludes the statement published on the X social network.
After the attack, Trump declared in the official social networks from his campaign team: “I knew immediately that something was wrong when I heard a buzz, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet piercing my skin. There was a lot of blood, so I realized what was happening. May God bless America!”
The Catholic Church in the United States unites in prayer
American Catholic bishops and well-known Catholic leaders spoke out after the events.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), along with the other pastors of the country, they condemned “political violence” and offered “prayers for President Trump and for those who lost their lives or were injured.”
“We ask all people of good will to join us in praying for peace in our country. Mary, Mother of God and Patroness of the Americas, pray for us,” she added.
Michael Warsaw, chairman and CEO of EWTN, the parent organization of ACI Prensa, assured: “This is a very sad day for our country. We need to pray for the former president and all those who have been affected by this incident. “We also need to redouble our prayers for our country.”
The Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bishop David Zubik, where the attack took place, published a statement in which he says he is “deeply shocked” after the events that occurred “right in front of one of our churches in Butler County.”
“We appreciate the quick actions of the Secret Service and our local first responders. Let us join together in prayer for the health and safety of all, for healing and peace, and for an end to this climate of violence in our world. May God guide and protect us all,” he added.
The Catholic bishops of the state of New York condemned through their social networks “violence of all kinds,” and added that they are joining “all people of good will in praying for former President Trump and any other injured person.”
For your part, Mons. Robert Barron, Obishop of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, He also offered his prayers for the former president and the wounded: “We must abandon the path of violence. May the Lord bless our troubled nation.”
Mons. William Shawn McKnight, Obispo de Jefferson City, Missouri, asked God for America to “come together in peace during these times of division.”
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of San Francisco, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, demanded, through his X account, the “end to this political violence” and prayed to God for the protection of Trump and President Joe Biden. “Democracy dies under the fire of weapons,” he said.
In a live ABC News interview, a woman who was present at the rally stated: “We crouched down, we huddled together and started praying.” Another woman commented: “How can I say it? You have to have God in your heart to be able to have freedom and everything. “This is just a sad situation.”
Matthew McDonald
Matt McDonald is a journalist for the National Catholic Register and editor of the New Boston Post.
Diego Lopez Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I have worked as a digital journalist. I started my career at the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. In 2016, I started as an editor at ACI Prensa and I have worked as a web editor since 2018. Starting in 2024, I write the newsletter for social media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.