Local

TIMELINE: Biden delivers Oval Office address on Trump rally shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally. Read live updates below and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for continuing coverage:

WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

9:45 p.m. Update

Trumps tells Washington Examiner he has rewritten his speech for the RNC

Former President Donald Trump told The Washington Examiner that he has rewritten the speech he was set to deliver at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday after being the target of an attempted assassination at his rally Saturday.

“The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,” he told the news outlet in an article posted Sunday evening.

In the interview, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee says he will now call for a new effort at national unity, noting that people from different political views have called him.

“This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago,” he said.

Trump also reflected on the moment a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear. He said he was saved from death because he turned from the crowd to look at a screen showing off a chart he was referring to.

“That reality is just setting in,” he told the news outlet as he boarded his plane in Bedminster, New Jersey, for Milwaukee. “I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?”

8:25 p.m. Update

‘In America we resolve our differences at the ballot box,’ Biden says

Biden says that during the Republican National Convention, he has “no doubt” Republicans will “criticize my record and offer their own vision for this country.” But he promised in campaigning to lay out “our vision.”

He used the address to urge all Americans not to accept an escalation in political violence as normal.

“We debate and disagree, we compare and contrast ... but in America we resolve our differences at the ballot box,” Biden said in his address.

He added: “Politics must never be a literal battlefield. God forbid a killing field.”

8:21 p.m. Update

Biden: ‘It’s time to cool it down’

Biden spoke for about five minutes from the Oval Office and noted that the Republican National Convention was opening in Milwaukee on Monday, while he himself would be traveling the country to campaign for reelection.

He said passions would run high on both sides and that the stakes of the election were enormous.

But the president added, “it’s time to cool it down” and noted not just the weekend attack on Trump but also the possibility of election-year violence on multiple fronts.

8:13 p.m. Update

Biden decries political violence in address from Oval Office

President Joe Biden says “we can’t, we must not go down” the road of political violence in American after Saturday’s attempted Trump assassination.

In a prime-time national address, Biden said that political passions can run high but “we must never descend into violence.”

“We can do this,” Biden implored, saying the nation was founded on a democracy that gave reason and balance a chance to prevail over brute force. “American democracy — where arguments are made in good faith. American democracy where the rule of law is respected. Where decency, dignity, fair play aren’t just quaint notions, they’re living, breathing realities.”

7:57 p.m. Update

Minutes away: Biden expected to deliver rare Oval Office remarks

The president is planning to deliver extended remarks to the nation in an address from the Oval Office starting at 8 p.m. EDT.

His campaign said the president would touch on “the need for every American to come together” to end political violence in the U.S.

7:12 p.m. Update

Canada’s Trudeau condemns attempted assassination of Trump

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with former President Trump on Sunday.

“The Prime Minister condemned yesterday’s appalling assassination attempt and reiterated there’s no place for political violence. The Prime Minister wished the former President well and offered condolences to the shooting victims and to the family of Corey Comperatore,” Trudeau’s office said in a statement.

6:52 p.m. Update

JUST IN: Trump arrives in Milwaukee for Republican National Convention one day after attempted assassination

6:34 p.m. Update

Former fire chief who died at Trump rally used his body to shield family from gunfire

Corey Comperatore’s quick decision to use his body as a shield against the bullets flying toward his wife and daughter rang true to the close friends and neighbors, who loved and respected the proud 50-year-old Trump supporter.

“He’s a literal hero,” said Mike Morehouse, who lived next to Comperatore for the last eight years.

At least two other people were injured at the rally: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday.

5:07 p.m. update

Secret Service says no changes to RNC security plan and it is ‘confident in the security plans’ after Trump rally attack

4:33 p.m. update

The U.S. Secret Service is set to speak about the assassination attempt Saturday.

3:38 p.m. update

Biden and first lady extend ‘deepest condolences’ to family of the man who was killed in the Trump rally shooting, AP said.

The president said Corey Comperatore was protecting him family from the bullets that were being fired “and he lost his life.””God love him,” Biden said.

3:09 p.m. update

Trump says he’ll be traveling to Milwaukee for GOP convention on Sunday afternoon, AP said.

Former President Donald Trump says he’ll travel to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Republican National Convention.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he was going to delay his trip after Saturday’s apparent assassination attempt, but decided he cannot “allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”


2:22 p.m. update

President Biden and Vice President received an updated briefing in the White House Situation Room from homeland security and law enforcement officials.

1:25 p.m. update

President Joe Biden will address the country around 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday following an updated briefing on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, according to CNN.


12:42 p.m. update

Pennsylvania governor identifies fatal victim at Trump rally shooting as Corey Comperatore, the Associated Press said.

The man who was killed at a rally for former President Donald Trump was Corey Comperatore, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Comperatore was a former fire chief from the area who loved his family, Shapiro said.

“Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night,” the governor said.


11:21 a.m. update

Law enforcement said bomb making materials were found in a vehicle and at the home of man suspected in Trump rally shooting, the Associated Press said.

There were also bomb-making materials found at his home.

The two officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.


10:15 a.m. update

The FBI has confirmed the identity of the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

The weapon used by Crooks, an “AR-style rifle,” was recovered at the scene.

Read: Trump assassination attempt: What we know about shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks

The U.S. Secret Service said agents fatally shot Crooks, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue at a farm show in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Associated Press said.

Click here to read more about the shooter.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.


9 a.m. update

The Associated Press on Sunday obtained a Trump campaign memo in which the former president’s senior campaign advisers thanked the United States Secret Service and all first responders for their efforts.

The memo also advised staff to avoid campaign offices in Washington and West Palm Beach, Florida, as they assess those locations.

It said the armed security presence is being enhanced at those offices.

Read: Central Florida officials react to shooting at Trump rally

“Our highest priority is to keep all of you on this staff safe,” the memo said.

The memo also instructed staff to not publicly comment on the assassination attempt against Trump and said that dangerous rhetoric on social media will not be tolerated.


8:30 a.m. update

Former President Donald Trump posted on his social media network Sunday morning, thanking the public for their thoughts and prayers.

“It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening,” he wrote. “We will fear not but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness.”

Photos: Trump says he was shot in the ear during rally

Trump also said, “Our love goes out to the other victims and their families,” and he said that he is praying “for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”

Trump called for unity in the post saying, “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined and not allowing evil to win.”

He said he looks forward to “speaking to our great nation this week from Wisconsin.”

The 2024 Republican National Convention will be held Monday through Thursday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.


7:35 a.m. update

The FBI confirmed overnight the identity of the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Click here to read more about that.

Global leaders expressed concern Sunday over an assassination attempt targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania that left one attendee dead and critically injured two others.

Trump’s campaign said the presumptive Republican nominee was doing “fine” after being whisked off the stage though the shooting pierced the upper part of his right ear.

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue.

Read: TIMELINE: Trump says he was shot in the ear during rally

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the incident unacceptable on X and said the attack must be “strongly repudiated” by all democracy defenders.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was sickened by the shooting and his thoughts were with Trump, those at the event and all Americans.

“It cannot be overstated -- political violence is never acceptable,” he wrote on X.

Read: Assassination attempt: Trump injured at campaign rally, gunman and bystander killed

Also on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was appalled to learn about the shooting, saying such violence has no justification. He added he was relieved to learn that Trump is safe.

Zelenskyy extended his wishes for strength to everyone who was horrified by the event.

Click here to read more reaction from leaders around the world, and click here to read reaction from local officials.

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

Beatriz Oliveira, WFTV.com

Beatriz Oliveira is a Content Creator for WFTV.com.

Carl-Max Millionard, WFTV.com

Carl-Max Millionard is a Content Creator for WFTV.com.

0