Trump's family reacts to assassination attempt: 'I love you Dad'
Former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. Trump was rushed off the stage by U.S. Secret Service agents, his face covered in blood, as the shots rang out. He was hit in the right ear.
The shooting left two audience members seriously injured and one man dead − 50-year-old Corey Comperatore of Sarver, Pennsylvania. Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, who was reportedly shielding his family from gunfire when he was struck.
The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents shortly after opening fire.
Over the weekend, members of the former president’s family, including former First Lady Melania Trump, condemned the shooting. Here is look at their statements.
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Melania Trump calls shooter a 'monster'
In a statement released on Sunday, former First Lady Melania Trump asked the nation to “ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.”
Melania Trump wrote that, “the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one,” and also thanked Secret Service and other law enforcement officials “who risked their own lives to protect my husband.”
The former First Lady described the shooter as “a monster.”
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine,” Melania Trump wrote. “Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.”
The former First Lady also offered her condolences to the families of the shooting victims, writing that, “your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me.”
Ivanka Trump: 'I love you Dad'
On Saturday, the former president’s daughter Ivanka Trump released a statement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, decrying the shooting.
“Thank you for your love and prayers for my father and for the other victims of today’s senseless violence in Butler, Pennsylvania. I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country,” Ivanka Trump wrote. “I love you Dad, today and always.”
A day later, on the second anniversary of her mother Ivana Trump’s death, the former president’s eldest daughter wrote that “I believe she was watching over Dad last night during the attempt on his life.”
Donald Trump Jr. says his dad will 'never stop fighting'
On Saturday, Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo on X of his father taken just moments after the shooting, as the former President was rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents with his hand held above his head in a fist.
“He’ll never stop fighting to save America,” the former president’s eldest son wrote in an accompanying caption.
Eric Trump calls Donald a 'fighter'
Eric Trump posted the same photo of his father just hours after the shooting, along with the caption, “This is the fighter America needs!”
The former president’s younger son followed that with a separate post saying, “Never surrender!”
Tiffany Trump: 'Political violence is never the answer'
The former President’s younger daughter, Tiffany Trump, also issued a statement on Saturday, writing on X that “the outpouring of love and support for my dad is deeply appreciated.”
“Thank you God for keeping my father alive. Political violence is never the answer. God bless the secret service and law enforcement who fearlessly intervened,” Tiffany Trump continued. “Please include the families of the victims in your prayers. As you saw today, my father is a fighter and he will continue to fight for you and the USA.”
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected]