Did Donald Trump just get shot? What’s really going on? [updated]

| 7:21 pm EDT July 13, 2024
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Here’s what we know: amid reports of the sound of gunshots at a Trump rally today, Donald Trump grabbed his ear and then hit the ground, and was then escorted off stage with what very much appeared to be blood on his ear, along with what appeared to be blood streaks on his face. The official statement from Trump’s camp is that he’s okay.

This leads to all kinds of questions. Did Trump just get shot in the ear? Is there a chance that the blood is someone else’s? Was this an assassination attempt, or something else? While we’re awaiting real answers, speculation and conspiracy theories are filling the vacuum — and that’s never helpful.

[UPDATE, 7:27pm]: this was just posted by the Washington Post: “Butler county district attorney Richard Goldinger tells me Trump was grazed by gunfire but is safe. An audience member was killed and the shooter is dead. Another person is in serious condition, the prosecutor said.”

[UPDATE, 7:41pm]: Axios now says Trump was hit by glass fragments not a bullet. As expected, the reporting is still conflicting.

For now, suffice it to say that political violence is never, ever the answer. Ever. Democratic leaders are rightly condemning this incident. But this is obviously a chaotic and confusion situation and still a developing story.

Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.