by Sharon Rondeau
(Jul. 13, 2024) — 6:26 p.m. EDT — Forty-fifth president and 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump appeared to be injured in the area of his right ear and possibly side of face at a rally in Butler, PA.
The Secret Service quickly rushed to Trump after he immediately ducked down to the stage and awaiting their assistance.
At least a half-dozen agents escorted surrounded and escorted him, “MAGA” hat clutched in his hand and possibly shoeless, down the steps to the stage and a waiting black vehicle as he held up his right fist in a defiant stance as, likely mouthing the word “Fight” to his audience.
Armed National Guardsmen also rushed the stage, guns ready.
The rally officially began at 5:00 p.m., but introductory speakers addressed the crowd gathered much earlier.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to Fox News’s Alexis McAdams on-air at 6:36 p.m., Trump was bleeding “above his ear.”
At 6:42, Fox displayed several still photos of the Secret Service surrounding Trump, who had streaks of blood on his right cheek.
According to a statement issued by the Secret Service at approximately 6:50 p.m., “The Former president is safe.”
A statement from the Trump campaign followed indicating the candidate is undergoing a medical checkup at a local hospital and is “fine.”
According to Pennsylvania journalist and eyewitness Selena Zito, the object used to injure the former president was “a firearm.”
The Republican National Convention (RNC) officially launches Monday during which Trump is expected to announce his vice-presidential choice.
The grumbling has already begun. I am joining in. A bird’s eye view, a map, of the rally will make clear how badly the Secret Service managed safety and security. It will be clear that and other “out” buildings should have been properly secured and cordoned off.
The Secret Service has decades of experience in evaluating and securing open air places. How did this happen? Incompetence? Laziness? Or was it an inside job? As far as I am concerned, everyone, EVERYONE, in the Secret Service is suspect and must be investigated.
Sadly, Merrick Garland will make sure the investigation fails to get the right answers. It still needs to be done, and there need to be independent investigators as well.
For some reason, the name of the shooter was changed. The first report was about a 24 year old named Mark Violets. Now it is a 20 year old Thomas Matthews Crooks. Were they both a part of antifa? We will find out. Did they know each other?
Did either of them know anyone in the Secret Service? Does anyone in the Secret Service have connections with antifa? Are there indirect connections we need to know about?
Was the shooter chosen from a group of plotters?
The spotlight must remain on the Secret Service. This is such a blatant foul up and they are completely to blame.