California leaders react after gunshots ring out at Trump rally

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Political leaders in California reacted to a shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania Saturday.

In a statement posted to X, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deadly shooting.

“Violence has NO place in our democracy. My thoughts are with President Trump and everyone impacted at the rally today,” said Newsom in the post.

California’s Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued a similar statement to X.

“There is no place for violence in our democracy. My prayers are with former President Trump, his family, and all those in attendance at the rally,” said Kounalakis in the post.

Mike McGuire, California’s Senate President Pro Tempore issued a statement describing the shooting as “horrific.”

“Horrific scenes out of Pennsylvania with shots fired @ former President Trump’s rally. Violence has no place in our country, and no place in politics. Full stop,” the statement said. “Truly grateful for the work and immediate response of law enforcement. Thoughts are with Mr. Trump, his family and all at the rally.”

In another post on X, California Republican Party chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson sent prayers.

“Please join me in praying for President Trump and praying for our country,” said Millan Patterson in the post.

The state’s Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher shared a video of the gunfire, but did not include additional comments.

Click HERE for the latest updates from Pennsylvania.

Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement that the former president was “fine” after a shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A local prosecutor says the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.

“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”

The Secret Service said in a statement that “the former President is safe.”

Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday when bangs started ringing through the crowd.

As the first pop rang out, Trump said, “Oh,” and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard and he crouched down.

Someone can be heard saying near the microphone at Trump’s lectern, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents tackled the former president.

Trump could later be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face.

He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.

The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.

His motorcade has since left the venue. His condition was not immediately known.

Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident, the White House said. He received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the United States Secretary Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

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