Indian American supporters and critics of Trump condemn attack on him at Pennsylvania rally

Supporters and critics expressed surprise and relief on Saturday night when news broke that shots were fired during former US President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Al Mason, a staunch Trump supporter and a prominent Indian American voice in the Trump camp, expressed gratitude that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was doing the right thing.

Speaking to ANI, Mason said he was “shocked” by the news that former President Donald Trump was injured at a campaign rally.

“No attack on President Trump will stop him from becoming President again. God is with him. Trump is a warrior and will fight for America,” Mason told ANI.

Mason further stated that the attempted assassination of Trump would increase support for the former president at the Republican convention.

The Secret Service said in a statement that Trump was addressing supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, when a shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage “from an elevated position.” Secret Service agents carried Trump off the stage with blood on his ear and cheek.

Many staunch Trump supporters, including Hindu4Trump, condemned the violence.

“As proud Hindu Americans, we believe in the sanctity of life and the power of unity in the face of adversity. This moment calls on us to unite as a nation, putting our differences aside, and support our leaders and our country,” Hindus4Trump said in a statement.

The statement further said, “We stand in solidarity with President Trump, his family, and democratic values, and condemn this senseless division and violence. There is no place for hate and we must all unite as supporters of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayaah…”

Trump's spokesman confirmed in a statement that the former president is “fine” but is seeing doctors at a local medical facility. The Secret Service said in a statement that the suspected shooter and another man were killed in the shooting and two others were seriously injured. Trump said in a statement that he was “struck by a bullet that went over my right ear.”

Similar sentiments have been expressed by Jesse Singh, who founded a group called American Sikhs for Trump.

JC Singh said, “We are praying for his safety and recovery. We condemn this act and appeal to America to unite behind President Trump. Waheguru Ji bless Trump and America.”

Singh also stressed that minorities will come out in support of the former president this year. “The agenda of minorities is the same as the rest of Americans,” Singh told ANI. “We want America to be great again.”

Similarly, supporters of US President Joe Biden also condemned the attack on Trump. Ajay Bhutoria, deputy national finance chair of the Democratic Party and a strong supporter of Biden, stressed that violence should never take place in the US and wished Trump a speedy recovery.

He said, “Violence should never happen in our democracy. My condolences are with President Trump and all those affected by today's rally. I wish them a speedy recovery.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation into the shooting that took place at former US President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday (local time).

In a statement, the FBI said special agents from the FBI's Pittsburgh Field Office responded immediately, and were joined by Crisis Response Team members and Evidence Response Technicians.

The FBI said that they will continue to cooperate with this investigation with all the resources of the investigative agency. Also asked people to tell them if they have any information about this incident.

In a statement shared on Twitter, the FBI said, “The FBI has assumed the role of the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation of the incident involving former President Donald Trump, which occurred today in Butler, Pennsylvania.”

“Special agents from the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office responded immediately, including members of the Crisis Response Team and Evidence Response Technicians. We will continue to support this investigation with all of the resources of the FBI, as well as our partners in the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to call our tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI,” it added.

Hours after the shooting, Donald Trump's campaign senior advisers Chris Lacivita and Suzy Wiles said the former US president was “doing well” and looking forward to being in Milwaukee to attend the Republican convention.

The convention will begin on Monday, and Trump will formally accept his party's nomination and deliver his opening statement on Thursday night, The Hill reports.

In a statement, Chris LaCivita and Suzy Wills said, “As reported earlier this evening, President Trump is doing well and is grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their swift action.”

“President Trump looks forward to joining all of you in Milwaukee as we move forward with our convention to nominate him as the 47th president of the United States. As our party's nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision of making America great again,” he said.