An attempt was made on Donald Trump’s life during his speech in Pennsylvania
The former president headed to the critical battleground for his final rally before the Republican National Convention, which kicks of in Milwaukee on Monday. Trump is hoping to drum up support in what is one of the biggest swing states in the country.
Donald Trump was forced to duck for cover when shots rang out while he was on stage at a rally in Pennsylvania.
At precisely 6.13pm, gunshots were heard as Trump spoke at Butler, Pennsylvania. He ran for cover and was immediately surrounded by Secret Service agents.
He immediately left the rally in a motorcade. The former president travelled to the key battleground state for his final push before the Republican National Convention commences in Milwaukee this Monday. Trump is angling to bolster his support base in this pivotal swing state.
Ahead of the event, Trump’s campaign put out a notice saying: "President Donald J. Trump loves Pennsylvania and is heartbroken to see how the state has been decimated by Joe Biden."
Yet, their Democratic rivals weren’t about to let that slide. Trump found himself welcomed by a billboard, strategically placed by the DNC, proclaiming, " Donald Trump was a disaster for Pennsylvania.", reports the Mirror US.
This Pennsylvania event happens as everyone’s buzzing about who Trump will name as his VP candidate. The former reality TV expert has tantalisingly kept the world guessing, teasing about his choice for number two with his trademark flair for drama.
Despite former Vice President Joe Biden grappling with a turbulent campaign after what many considered a disappointing debate showing, with some suggesting he should withdraw, Trump has remained somewhat elusive, steering clear of the limelight with scarce public showings in the recent fortnight. Nonetheless, he hasn’t put a stop to the whispers and anticipation.
"It’s like a highly sophisticated version of ’The Apprentice,’" Trump boasted during a radio interview on Friday, referencing his former reality TV program where he was known for the catchphrase "You’re fired". The ex-president is stirring up anticipation ahead of the Republican National Convention (RNC), hinting he might reveal his choice for vice president there to add some pizzazz to the proceedings.
"I’d love to do it during the convention ... or just slightly before the convention, like Monday," he suggested on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Trump has let other opportunities to disclose his VP candidate slip by and now appears keen on announcing with flair.
Tuesday night saw Trump at his Doral golf club filled with expectant reporters. He tapped into the gathered media attention by quipping about their presence: "I think they probably think I’m going to be announcing that Marco is going to be vice president," nodding toward Sen.
Marco Rubio of Florida is in the audience. His campaign stirred up further excitement by sharing snippets of his planned remarks, teasingly stating, "So tonight, I am officially," leaving the sentence hanging. Ramping up the suspense, Trump’s team dispatched fundraising emails with cliffhanger subject lines like, "Will I announce my VP pick in 60 mins? ".
Speculation was rampant in the lead-up to Saturday’s event, situated in a pivotal swing state and merely an hour away from Ohio, the home turf of Senator JD Vance, another VP hopeful stirring the pot. Although the rumour mill had churned out names like Vance, Rubio, and North Dakota’s Governor Doug Burgum as frontrunners, none were scheduled to make an appearance, insiders dished anonymously.
If we delve into history, we see that typically major party candidates unveil their VP pick before the convention commences. Yet notable exceptions include Ronald Reagan back in 1980 and George H.
W. Bush in ’88, who both kept the public in suspense until the convention itself to announce their choices for running mates.
Trump has acknowledged the advantages of an early reveal, asserting that "it makes it easier" to get the message out sooner than later. Still, he also yearns for the "old days," when a big reveal would create a media frenzy.
Yet stalling the announcement isn’t just about generating buzz; there are real challenges ahead. The chosen VP will have to give the speech of their life at the convention on Wednesday night as they step up to accept the nomination.
What this means is a full clear out of any existing plans to leave room for a barrage of rallies, high-profile events, and crucial debate prep. Even though these hurdles loom large, some members of Trump’s inner circle are urging him to hang fire until the eleventh hour of the convention.
"RNC should make first night of the convention an Apprentice VP live show. Trump could fire each contender not chosen one at a time," former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal cheekily suggested on Twitter.
The RNC appeared to follow suit, amending its rules on Thursday and setting the stage for ratification next Monday, clearly leaving the door open for Trump to make his big reveal at the last second.
Ever the showman, Trump has even floated the idea of dragging the suspense out to Tuesday or Wednesday, as he hinted in a chat with program hosts. Carefully scrutinising his potential VPs, Trump has been noting how they handle themselves on the airwaves, at fund-raising events, and during rallies.
His loyalists, like Burgum and Vance, have even thrown their weight behind him by showing up at his hush money trial in New York. The Democratic camp isn’t faring much better; Biden’s shaky debate performance last month has sparked cries for new leadership, letting Trump bide his time without ceding the media’s gaze to Biden’s blunders.
He conceded that the whispers of Democrats swapping Biden out were playing into his decision-making process.
"A little bit, you know, we wanted to see what they’re doing, to be honest. Because, you know, it might make a difference," Trump said during a Fox News conversation with host Sean Hannity. While Trump’s approach to choosing a vice-presidential running mate has been inconsistent since the primaries, he admitted on Friday that he has a shortlist of about four or five serious contenders.
"I have some really, really good candidates. And you know, I may be leaning one way and that changing sometimes - you know all of a sudden you see something that you like or you don’t like and you lean a little bit differently ... but we have a very good bench," Trump commented on his potential VP selections.
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