Melania Trump breaks her silence on attempted assassination of husband Donald at Pennsylvania rally

PUBLISHEDSun Jul 14 2024 14:28 GMT

UPDATEDMon Jul 15 2024 11:15 GMT

Melania Trump has broken her silence on the shooting of her husband Donald Trump by a would-be assassin and the horror when she realized her and son Barron's life were on the brink of 'devastating change'.

The former first lady called the gunman a 'monster' and described the moment she watched the bullet strike her husband's ear at a Pennsylvania rally in front of thousands of his adoring fans.

'A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion - his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,' Melania said in an emotional statement on X on Sunday morning.

'When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.'

Melania Trump has broken her silence on the shooting of her husband Donald Trump

The former first lady called for people to 'reunite' and said she is thinking of her fellow Americans.

'This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence,' her statement continued.

'The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide - thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.'

The former first lady has stayed off the campaign trail so far as her husband mounts his bid for a second term in the White House, but she is set to attend the Republican National Convention this week in Milwaukee, WI.

The couple share an 18-year-old son Barron. He made his debut at a Trump rally earlier in the week in Doral, FL.

The Trump family has received an outpouring of support and prayers from officials across the political spectrum and public officials around the world following the shooting.

18-year-old Barron Trump made his campaign rally debut at his father's event in Doral, FL on July 9

Former President Trump with Melania Trump and Barron in 2017 while he was serving as president. In her statement on Sunday, the former first lady wrote 'thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family'

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman, has been pictured for the first time on Sunday morning - time just hours after he was shot and killed by Secret Service.

The registered Republican and 2022 high school graduate opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6.15pm.

Images of Crooks wearing glasses, braces, and an American flag t-shirt in a yearbook headshots emerged on Sunday morning, hours after he tried to take out the presumptive Republican nominee and killed a member of the rally crowd.

Read Melania's emotional statement in full: 'Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.'

I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans.

We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one.

When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of a devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.

To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me.

A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion - this laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband's life - his human side - were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.

Le us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment - until death - is at serious risk. Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings.

We are all humans, and fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another. American politics are only one vehicle that can uplift our communities. Love, compassion, kindness and empathy re necessities.

And let us remember that when the time comes to loo beyond the left and the right, beyond the red and the blue, we all come from families with passion to fight for a better life together, while we are here, in this earthly realm.

Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.

This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence. We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends. We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again.

I am thinking of you, my fellow Americans.

The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide - thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.

Trump raises his fist below the American flag, with blood across his face, moments after the shooting

Blood is seen coming from Donald Trump's ear, where he said he was shot

In unprecedented scenes of terror, Trump suddenly grabbed his ear and dropped to the ground as gunshots rang out and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Moments later, he got up and raised his fist and shouted 'fight, fight, fight' as the Secret Service escorted him to a motorcade and then to hospital.

Last night a bomb squad and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at an address registered to Crooks as cops stood guard in front of yellow police caution tape.

A member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others who were wounded are in a critical condition. All three are males, according to law enforcement officials.

Trump was left bloodied and hurt during the assassination attempt as he was seen to suddenly grab hold of his ear as loud bangs rang out and whizzed by before he ducked to the floor.

The Secret Service swarmed around the 45th US President as piercing screams were heard from the MAGA crowd.

He then got to his feet with blood pouring down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted 'fight' while the audience shouted 'USA' as he was dragged off stage and bundled into a vehicle.

Mr Rojek said they had not identified a motive for what he a called 'an assassination attempt on our former president'.

According to Pennsylvania's public court records, Crooks had no criminal history and officials claimed they are still working towards identifying a motive behind the shooting.

Melania Trump breaks her silence on attempted assassination of husband Donald at Pennsylvania rally

Read Melania's emotional statement in full: 'Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.'

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