USA Assassination attempt on Trump: What we know that we don't know

A gunman has shot former President Donald Trump at a campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania. The 78-year-old was injured in the incident on Saturday (local time). Here is an overview of what we know and the aspects that are still unclear:

How bad is Trump's injury?

Trump wrote on Truth Social, the platform he co-founded, that a bullet had hit him in the upper part of his right ear. Upright and supported by Secret Service security guards, he left the stage with a bleeding ear. He raised his fist in the air. Trump was medically examined. A few hours later, his campaign team released a video showing him coming down the stairs on the plane as it arrived in the state of New Jersey.

Was Trump lucky in his misfortune?

It is still too early to say for sure. But his statements initially suggested that he was only slightly injured in the ear by a bullet. A bullet that was a few centimetres out of place could therefore - in the worst case - have hit him directly in the head.

Who fired the shots at Trump?

The FBI identified the suspected shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from near Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania. His home in Bethel Park is about 75 kilometers south of the attack site in Butler. He was killed by security forces in Butler. Media reports suggested that he was quickly shot by snipers. However, the Secret Service did not initially release any details about the shooter's killing.

What was the perpetrator's motive?

There was initially no definite information on this. According to US media, the shooter is said to have been registered as a Republican in the electoral register, but he is also said to have donated to a Democratic group at least once. Investigators are likely to take a close look at the man's mental state, his finances and his online activities, among other things.

How did the perpetrator manage to shoot Trump?

The suspected gunman opened fire from an "elevated position" outside the venue. Videos suggested that he fired from a nearby rooftop. Investigators recovered an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at the scene, according to US media. Whether the alleged perpetrator had acquired the weapon legally and how much ammunition he was carrying remained unclear at first. It was also not initially known how experienced the man was in handling the weapon.

Were the security measures sufficient?

Former President Trump is protected by the Secret Service - but the security measures are not as extensive as for a sitting president. In the coming weeks and months, we can expect a detailed review of the operation in Butler. A key question is likely to be whether the security staff should have (better) controlled the "elevated position" with an apparently direct line of sight to Trump on the podium, even though it was outside the event grounds.

Who else was injured in the attack?

One spectator was killed in the attack, two others were injured and were initially in a critical condition. According to the police, the victims were adult men. Panic broke out in the audience after the incident. The venue was evacuated.

Will Trump continue his election campaign?

Trump wants to defeat Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in the presidential election in early November - less than four months away - and secure another term in office. This Monday, the Republican party convention begins in Milwaukee, where Trump is to be officially chosen as his party's candidate for the election. The convention is to take place as planned. This was announced by the party and Trump's campaign team in a joint statement. So everything points to Trump continuing his election campaign.

Will Trump use the assassination attempt for his election campaign?

Trump has always staged himself as a martyr and as someone who his political opponents are trying to get out of the way by any means necessary. He has already successfully used the four criminal proceedings against him to mobilize his supporters and collect donations. He may therefore also be trying to systematically use the attack for his own purposes. A few hours after the shots were fired in Butler, his team sent out the first campaign text message with the words: "I will never give up" - and a direct link to the donation website.

Is Trump's election victory now more likely?

We don't know. Immediately after the event, there were initially no new polls that allowed an assessment of the impact of the attack on voters. Among Republicans, who generally like Trump anyway, he could find even more support in the future. Whether undecided voters - or even some Democrats - will now be more enthusiastic about him, however, remains to be seen.

How does Biden react?

The US President strongly condemned the attack on Trump. "I am grateful to hear that he is safe and well," he said immediately after the incident. He said he was praying for him and Trump's family and for everyone at the rally. This kind of violence has no place in America. He later appeared in front of the cameras and said. "This is sick, this is sick." According to the White House, Biden and Trump spoke personally on the phone.

Could the attack lead to further violence?

We do not know. The forthcoming political reactions are also likely to play a role: Will politicians try to use the act of violence to incite their supporters? In any case, US Vice President Kamala Harris already warned of an escalation of violence after the attack. "We must all condemn this heinous act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to further violence", the Democrat warned on X.

SDA