SVE NEWS & CNN.COM Sharing Series — Trump injured at Pennsylvania rally

Former President Donald Trump was injured Saturday at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Blood could be seen on his ear and face after loud bangs were heard at the rally. Secret Service agents covered him up before helping him away from the scene.

See more photos from the incident here.

Former President Donald Trump, with blood on his face, raises his fist to the crowd as he is surrounded by Secret Service agents at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. 

Evan Vucci/AP

Blood is seen on Trump’s right ear as he is helped off the stage. 

Gene J. Puskar/AP

Trump is covered by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard at the rally. 

Evan Vucci/AP

Trump is assisted by security personnel after the bangs were heard. 

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Trump can be seen under Secret Service agents covering him. 

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Secret Service agents rush the stage. 

Evan Vucci/AP

Trump raises a fist as he is helped into a vehicle and taken away from the rally. 

Gene J. Puskar/AP

Vice President Kamala Harris has been briefed on the security incident at former President Donald Trump’s rally, according to her office. Harris is en route back to Washington, DC, from a campaign stop in Philadelphia.

Former President George W. Bush says he is “grateful” that former President Donald Trump is safe.

Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, has offered support to law enforcement as investigation to incident at Trump rally begins.

“I am monitoring the situation at President Trump’s rally in Butler and I’ve reached out the State Police to offer support,” Casey said in a statement on X. “Political violence is never acceptable and I am hoping former president Trump & all attendees are safe. Everyone in Butler should listen to law enforcement.”

The New York City Police Department is increasing its presence at Trump Tower and other sensitive locations out of an abundance of caution around the city after former President Donald Trump was injured during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

According to a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the mayor has been briefed on the incident. The NYPD will also increase security at 40 Wall Street, Foley Square and City Hall.

Trump Tower in Manhattan is already under the watch of the NYPD, even though Trump seldom visits his former residence. Over the years, Trump Tower has served as a gathering place for supporters and opponents of the former president.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley condemned political violence and offered prayers for Donald Trump after he was rushed off stage after loud bangs were heard at the start of a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Billionaire tech investor Elon Musk has announced he is endorsing former President Donald Trump following Saturday’s incident in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk tweeted.

Musk, head of SpaceX, Tesla and X, has made supporting right-wing causes — and extremism, in some situations — increasingly central to his identity.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement after the incident at former President Trump’s rally, saying, “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country.”

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy is calling for unity in the wake of former President Donald Trump being rushed off stage by Secret Service at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.

Details on the incident at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, are still sparse, but Trump had blood on his face as he was rushed off stage following the sound of loud bangs. A spokesperson has said he is “fine.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement on X that he is praying for former President Donald Trump.

“My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response,” he said. “America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Saturday condemned political violence and said he’s been briefed on the incident at Donald Trump’s rally.

“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,” Shapiro posted to X.

Donald Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung said the former president “is fine.”

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident at former President Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, according to the White House.

Biden was attending Mass on Saturday evening when the incident occurred. Biden received an initial briefing in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, before receiving an updated briefing, the White House said Saturday.

Per the White House, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall are part of the team briefing the president, with White House chief of staff Jeff Zientz, counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, and deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini also participating.

First Lady Jill Biden was en route back to Delaware from an event in Pittsburgh at the time of the incident.

Vice President Kamala Harris was en route back to Washington, DC, from a campaign stop in Philadelphia at the time.

This post has been updated with additional information.

Former President Donald Trump is safe after an incident at his rally, according to Anthony Guglielmi, US Secret Service chief of communications

Several allies of Donald Trump and potential vice presidential picks have tweeted messages of support and prayers for the former president, who was injured at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, moments ago.

Here’s a look at what they’re saying:

Several allies posted the photograph of Trump with his fist in the air and blood on his ear, including Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rubio, Scott, Stefanik and Vance.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is en route to assist at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania, according to a spokesperson.

Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X that he is “praying for President Trump,” moments after the former president was taken offstage after he was injured in an incident at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik also posted on the platform, saying, “Please pray for President Trump, his family, and all of the patriots at today’s rally in Pennsylvania.”

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13. 

Gene J. Puskar/AP

Pool reporters at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump was rushed offstage reported that they heard ‘“a series of loud explosions or loud bangs” before Secret Service agents rushed toward Trump

“The Secret Service went and immediately covered President Trump,” according to the pool report. “Pool heard residual bangs afterward.”

“Agents grabbed Trump, who was seen waving his fists in the air,” the pool report added.

Secret Service cover Trump af

Evan Vucci/AP

President Joe Biden with Secret Service agents leaves St. Edmond’s Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after attending mass, on Saturday, July 13. (

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

President Joe Biden has departed church and was asked by reporters if he was briefed on the incident at the Trump rally, he replied no.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally on Saturday, July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

Evan Vucci/AP

Secret Service agents rushed former President Donald Trump off the stage after he fell to the ground amid loud bangs at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

After the bangs, Trump fell to the ground and was covered by Secret Service agents. He was stood back up by security personnel and had blood on his face. He was yelling back to the crowd and raising his fist before being was whisked away by security personnel.

Trump was then taken to a vehicle and evacuated from the scene. The incident took place moments after he took the stage at the rally.

People take cover as Secret Service agents surround Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on stage.

Evan Vucci/AP

This post has been updated.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has been invited to speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week, one person familiar told CNN.

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign and a spokesperson for Haley did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The news comes after it was announced earlier this week that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow former GOP presidential nominee, is expected to speak at the RNC.

CNN reported Tuesday that Haley and DeSantis had been left out of the program, sparking backlash from their supporters.

Trump’s team had been discussing whether to invite Haley to the convention next week.

Haley, who dropped out of the presidential race in March, announced Tuesday that she was releasing her delegates to the convention and urging them to support Trump. She made clear in a May speech that she would vote for Trump, and the two spoke last month.

President Joe Biden attends a campaign event at Renaissance High School in Detroit on July 12. 

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Democratic lawmakers pressed President Joe Biden directly about how he can win reelection in what multiple sources described as a tense call Saturday.

Biden, who was 30 minutes late to the private conversation, started his call with the moderate group of House Democrats known as the New Democrat Coalition by asking for lawmakers to ask tough questions, per multiple sources familiar with the call.

One of the questions came from Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, who asked Biden whether concerns about his mental acuity would affect national security, two sources told CNN. Biden was animated, per sources, as he defended his record and pointed to the work he has done to strengthen NATO.

Lawmakers also sought reassurances from Biden over the course of the call, but those sometimes fell flat and sources described the president’s responses as defensive.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania pressed Biden directly about what his strategy was for winning the state, one of the sources told CNN.

Only three lawmakers asked questions on the call, but Biden said he appreciated the feedback and would get back to anyone whom he did not have time for, another one of the sources said.

Biden ended the call by saying he had to go to church, per sources.

First lady Jill Biden hit the campaign trail Saturday to help bolster support for her husband’s reelection bid in battleground Pennsylvania, leaning on her family’s personal story to make inroads with a key group as President Joe Biden contends with concerns about his age and capacity to serve a second term.

Jill Biden, the first Italian American first lady, said, “Our ancestors kept true to the same values that echo in the motto of this organization: Liberty, unity and duty. You make sure everyone can build a good life in America. That work is personal to Joe, and to me, too.”

In the largely apolitical speech, the first lady pointed to some of the president’s values and accomplishments.

The first lady spoke about an hour away from Butler, Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump is holding a Saturday evening rally. Vice President Kamala Harris was also in battleground Pennsylvania on Saturday, speaking at a town hall with Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.

From left: actors Jennifer Coolidge and Adrienne Warren, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten Buttigieg.

Getty Images

Actors Jennifer Coolidge and Adrienne Warren, along with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, will headline a Biden campaign fundraiser next weekend in Provincetown, Massachusetts, featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, the fundraiser’s host announced Saturday.

Bryan Rafanelli — the event planner behind the 2022 White House wedding of Naomi Biden, President Joe Biden’s granddaughter, and last year’s Australian state dinner at the White House — posted the lineup to Instagram on Saturday.

Per an event invitation, tickets start at $150, while donors who contribute or raise $15,000 or more will have the opportunity to pose for a photo with the vice president.

Earlier this week, local paper the Provincetown Independent reported that one of the fundraiser’s co-hosts withdrew from the event shortly after last month’s CNN debate, where Biden’s performance raised alarms among political allies over his fitness for office.

“I thought long and hard about it before I backed out of this event,” Terrence Meck said, according to the Independent. “For me, it was not in my heart to continue supporting this candidacy.”

CNN has reached out to Meck and the Biden campaign for comment.

Over the last several days, former President Donald Trump held private meetings with three vice presidential hopefuls: Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a source familiar with the matter tells CNN.

Sources said they did not believe Trump made an offer to any candidate.

Some details of the meetings were reported earlier by ABC News.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the press at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia on July 13.

Ryan Collerd/AFP/Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters traveling with her in Philadelphia on Saturday that President Joe Biden did “an outstanding job,” during Thursday’s hour-long news conference on the sidelines of the NATO summit, pointing to a high-energy rally in Detroit on Friday as further evidence there remains “a lot of support” for Biden.

Biden took 19 questions from ten reporters during the solo news conference, though much attention was paid to a duo of gaffes that saw the president mistakenly call Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as “Putin” and his own vice president as “Vice President Trump.”

In her comments Saturday, Harris also acknowledged the presence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, calling the Democrat “a great partner to the President.”

Earlier tonight: Harris also defended Biden’s reelection bid Saturday during a speech at a Philadelphia town hall organized by the organization APIAVote.

Harris once again pointed out the stakes of the 2024 election, which is 115 days away, calling it “the most existential, consequential and important election of our lifetime.”

She described Biden as resilient in the face of calls for him to step down from the presidential race.

The call between President Joe Biden and the moderate group of House Democrats known as the New Democrat Coalition is now underway, according to multiple sources.

This follows Biden’s call with another coalition, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, earlier today, as the president tries to shore up his flagging support with Democratic lawmakers.

The calls are giving him a chance to speak directly to critics: All of the House Democrats who have publicly called for Biden to step aside belong to one of the two groups.

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan leaves the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on August 14, 2023. 

Alex Slitz/AP

Geoff Duncan, the Republican former Georgia lieutenant governor, indicated Sunday that his feelings on President Joe Biden’s candidacy have changed since previously endorsing the president.

While Duncan said he believes the president is “fighting hard” to reestablish his credibility, he said “that ship has sailed in my opinion.”

He went on to say he thinks the Democrats’ best chance at beating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election is to nominate a different candidate.

Duncan said Trump creates “chaos and anger” and that he worries what another term would do to the country.

“I worry about the economy. I worry about our international relationships. I worry about all kinds of things. I worry about being able to sit down and talk to your neighbor,” he said. “Those are the things that I’m worried about long-term as an American.”

Remember: Duncan and other state GOP election officials pushed back against Donald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud in Georgia after the 2020 election — prompting public attacks by the former president and threats from his supporters.

When Duncan endorsed Biden, he acknowledged that the president’s “progressive policies aren’t to conservatives’ liking,” but said he felt he was left with no alternative, and argued a second Trump term would hinder the Republican Party from moving forward.

Vice President Kamala Harris was interrupted by protesters Saturday while delivering remarks at a town hall put on by the nonpartisan organization Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote).

As she was discussing comments from former President Donald Trump, demonstrators objecting to the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza began to shout from the audience.

According to reporters in the room, demonstrators — including at least one small group holding a sign — interrupted, with one chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

As she tried to continue, protesters again began to chant, “Free, free Palestine,” prompting supporters again to drown out those protests with, “Four more years.”

“We are fighting for a democracy and democratic values, which includes the right of everyone to speak,” Harris said, later repeating, “We are going to have four more years.”

In Gaza today, the health ministry says at least 90 Palestinians were killed in an airstrike by Israel, which said its military had launched an attack on Hamas’ military chief.

The Israeli attack happened in Al-Mawasi, which is designated by Israel as a safe place for Palestinians fleeing the fighting elsewhere. At least one US-made munition was used in the strike, according to CNN analysis confirmed by a former US Army ordnance disposal technician.

This post has been updated to clarify that Harris was speaking at a town hall organized by APIAVote, not an event organized by the Biden campaign.

President Joe Biden held a call with the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Saturday afternoon.

This was one of two calls that Biden planned today with key factions of the House Democratic caucus, and was part of the broader direct outreach Biden is conducting as he tries to assuage concerns within his party.

Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal shared a statement after the private call concluded, saying, “We spoke frankly to the President about our concerns and asked tough questions about the path forward. We appreciate his willingness to thoughtfully answer and address our Members.”

Biden’s other call Saturday is with the New Democrat Coalition, CNN reported earlier today. This follows virtual meetings with the political wings of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Friday, according to sources familiar with the calls.

This post has been updated with statements about the call from caucus members.

BET will air an interview with President Joe Biden on Wednesday, according to a Saturday news release from the network.

Biden will sit down with veteran BET journalist Ed Gordon for his first on-camera interview with the network.

The special — set to air at 10 p.m. ET — “will discuss the growing concern over President Biden’s fitness for office, the state of the economy for Black families, the Project 2025 conservative policy agenda, and the fight to engage Black voters,” according to the network. “Project 2025” refers to a proposed policy platform from a conservative, pro-Trump think tank.

Some context: The interview marks the latest effort from the Biden campaign to reach Black voters, who propelled him to victory in 2020. Earlier this month, the campaign drew fire when it was revealed they’d passed along suggested questions to two Black radio hosts.

Host Andrea Lawful-Sanders resigned from Philadelphia station WURD after telling CNN that her post-debate interview with President Joe Biden included questions that were pre-selected by Biden’s campaign team.

The president is also scheduled to sit down with NBC News’ Lester Holt in Austin on Monday.

President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit on July 12. 

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Speaking before an enthusiastic crowd in Detroit on Friday night, President Joe Biden declared unequivocally that he was staying in the 2024 race and attacked rival Donald Trump in a number of new ways.

If you’re catching up on the speech, here were some of the key moments:

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont continued to urge Democrats to back President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, writing in a Saturday op-ed for The New York Times that he “may not be the ideal candidate, but he will be the candidate and should be the candidate.”

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has been one of Biden’s critical allies in Congress since the 81-year-old president’s dismal debate performance last month spurred calls for him to step aside from the race. Sanders, along with fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have offered the president lifelines this week, publicly backing him during one of the tensest moments of Biden’s political life.

In his op-ed, Sanders acknowledged his disagreements with Biden, including about the US’ support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza, but said “too many Democrats” have focused “on the June presidential debate and the cognitive capabilities of a man who has, perhaps, the most difficult and stressful job in the world.”

Sanders added: “With an effective campaign that speaks to the needs of working families, he will not only defeat Mr. Trump but beat him badly. It’s time for Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking.”