It’s just a few seconds that turn Donald Trump’s election campaign – and that of Joe Biden – upside down. The assassination and the reactions could decide the election. A brief chronology.
Saturday afternoon, Butler Farm Show Grounds in Pennsylvania. Donald Trump fans wave flags, drink beer and wait for their idol. The former president and presidential candidate again is late. He was expected to arrive at 5 p.m. local time, but he is more than an hour late – unaware of the images that will go around the world shortly afterwards.
18:03 – “God Bless the USA” booms from the speakers. Donald Trump claps his hands and steps onto the stage.
18:05 – Trump begins his speech, ranting about Joe Biden, the “worst president ever”.
18.11 hrs – He points with his arm to the right at a sign with statistics on illegal border crossings into the USA. Seconds later, visitors see the suspected attacker. “He’s on the roof, he has a gun!” they shout, which is shown by a .
18.12 hrs – A shot is heard. Trump puts his hand to his right ear and stops speaking. Two more shots. Trump ducks behind the podium. A Secret Service agent shouts: “Get down! Get down!” Five more shots are heard. Several bodyguards storm onto the stage and throw themselves at the ex-president. The audience is silent at first, then some scream. One participant is dead, two others are seriously injured. Then one of the agents on the stage says: “Shooter neutralized.”
The shooter is killed seconds after the attack
18:13 – The bodyguards get Trump up. “I have to take my shoes with me,” he says. Then they want to lead him off the stage, but Trump intervenes: “Stop, wait.” He stretches, shows his blood-smeared face to the crowd and raises his fist. “Fight! Fight!” he calls to the crowd. They respond enthusiastically: “USA, USA, USA!” Then the agents lead him into an SUV and drive away.
Video shows the moment Donald Trump was shot
01:50 min
Shortly thereafter, the White House press department released a statement saying that Joe Biden had been informed of the situation and that Biden was “praying for him and his family.”
18.45 hrs – The first people are speaking out publicly. Entrepreneur Elon Musk publicly announces his support for Trump via X.
18:51 – A press spokesman for Trump says the Republican is “doing well” and is being treated at a medical facility.
20:42 – Just two and a half hours after the assassination, the former president himself spoke out on his platform. A bullet hit him in the ear. He thanked the Secret Service for its quick reaction and expressed his condolences to the families of the dead and injured. “God bless America.”
20:49 – He makes an official statement and states that the incident is being investigated and the investigation has been handed over to the FBI.
“Attempted assassination of Donald Trump”
Approximately 10:05 p.m. – The FBI officially classifies the shooting of Donald Trump as an “attempted assassination.”
Around 10.15 p.m. – Biden speaks at a press conference called at short notice. He says he is relieved that Trump is doing well. He wants to speak to Trump personally and condemns the violence against a politician.
10.18 pm – The Republican Party announced in a joint statement with Trump that the nominating convention would take place as planned.
10.45 p.m. – Biden and Trump spoke on the phone, a White House spokesman announced. He did not give any details, but said the conversation was respectful.
July 14, 0.37 am – The Trump team publishes a video on X of the former president getting off the plane in New York. He walks down the stairs independently and alone.
Sunday night – The FBI has identified the shooter. He is a 20-year-old from the US state of Pennsylvania named Thomas Matthew Crooks – apparently a registered Republican according to the voter registration. There is still no information about his motive. The police no longer believe there was a threat.
The Kremlin announced, among other things, that the current US government was not responsible for the attack on Trump. However, it had created a mood that led to the attack.
7.36 am – Trump calls for unity on his own network Truth Social. At this moment it is more important than ever “that we stay united and show our true character as Americans.”
10.22 am – Former First Lady Melania Trump, who had previously stayed out of the election campaign, speaks out on X. The assassin is a “monster”, but the American people should stand together. Love and community are more important than different political beliefs and power games.
1.30 p.m. – Joe Biden speaks again in a press conference. He announces a comprehensive investigation into the events. A planned trip to Texas is canceled at short notice. He announces a State of the Union speech and calls on Americans to stand together. He has instructed the Secret Service to review the security measures for the Republican Party Convention and to increase them if necessary.
3.30 p.m. – Donald Trump is leaving for Milwaukee on Sunday. His renewed candidacy is to be officially confirmed at the nominating convention in the following days. He changed his speech at short notice and wanted to call for unity – like Biden. The former president arrived as planned around 24 hours after the first shot was fired.
Sources: “”, , “”, , , Information from the news agency DPA.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
