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.](https://cdn.cityandstatepa.com/media/img/cd/2024/07/14/GettyImages_2161927535/860x394.jpg?1720981925)
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
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: