Former Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney, known for her criticism of Donald Trump, expressed her dismay at the incident where shots were fired at a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania, injuring the former president.
During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon, Trump was swiftly escorted off stage after shots were heard early on in his speech. The shooter was reported dead, and a rally attendee was tragically killed.
As Trump appeared to stumble and with what seemed like blood on his face, he was protected by armed security for a brief period.
Cheney, along with both supporters and critics of Trump, extended their prayers for his well-being following the incident.
On Saturday evening, Cheney shared her thoughts on the matter: “Reports of the shooting in Pennsylvania are horrifying. Violence has no place in American politics. We are thankful for the swift response of law enforcement and are praying for the former president and all those affected,” she wrote. This message was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Secret Service confirmed that the incident is under investigation: “An incident occurred at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13. The Secret Service has taken necessary precautions, and the former President is safe. This is an ongoing Secret Service investigation, and further updates will be provided in due course,” stated Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service.
Trump has been critical of Cheney in the past. Cheney, although previously aligned with Trump, became one of his vocal critics after the 2020 election. She lost her Republican leadership position in 2021 but remained active in investigating the events of January 6.
Following the incident, Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, denounced political violence. “Violence against any political figure or party is completely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he emphasized.
Upon receiving initial information on the incident at Trump’s rally, the White House provided an update, as per a pool report released on Saturday.