PA politicians react to Trump assassination attempt at Butler County rally

Elected officials from both parties offered stunned responses and widespread condemnation.

People watch a news station broadcast of the scene as former U.S. President Donald Trump is rushed off stage by Secret Service at his Pennsylvania rally, at a bar across the street from the Fiserv Forum where the Republican National Convention will be held, on July 13, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

People watch a news station broadcast of the scene as former U.S. President Donald Trump is rushed off stage by Secret Service at his Pennsylvania rally, at a bar across the street from the Fiserv Forum where the Republican National Convention will be held, on July 13, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

By Greg Salisbury

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A Butler County rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday turned deadly in an instant when a man, identified by authorities as 20-year-old Bethel Park resident Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at the stage, killing one attendee, critically injuring two others, and leaving the former president with a bleeding right ear.

While details continue to emerge about the incident, politicians from across the commonwealth’s political spectrum were quick to weigh in on what happened. Below is a sampling:

Gov. Josh Shapiro:

State Sen. President Pro Tempore Kim Ward:

State Sen. Majority Leader Joe Pittman:

Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Joanna McClinton:

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman:

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, in whose district the rally took place:

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle:

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan:

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