Former President Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee have confirmed that the party’s convention will proceed as planned despite the assassination attempt on Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania.
In response to the incident, Trump’s top political advisers have instructed staff to avoid campaign offices while security assessments are conducted and armed security measures are enhanced.
“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” said Trump’s co-campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita in a statement on Saturday night, shortly after the shooting at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The statement was also signed by Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law.
The Republican National Convention, where Trump will be officially nominated as the GOP’s 2024 candidate, is scheduled to begin on Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
On Sunday morning, Wiles and LaCivita reiterated that “the RNC Convention will continue as planned in Milwaukee, where we will nominate our President to be the brave and fearless nominee of our Party.” However, they advised staff, particularly those already in Milwaukee, to avoid campaign offices in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Washington, D.C., until security measures are thoroughly assessed. They also announced an increase in armed security with 24/7 onsite officers.
“Our highest priority is to keep all of you on this staff safe,” emphasized Wiles and LaCivita.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday” at the Fiserv Forum, the convention’s site in Milwaukee, Whatley emphasized, “The arena is set and the security is here.” He explained that extensive security preparations involve coordination with the Secret Service and 40 different law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of the 50,000 attendees, including delegates, alternates, guests, and media members.
Prior to the assassination attempt, significant security measures were already in place for the convention, including a heavy presence of federal, state, and local law enforcement, street closures, and barriers.
The shooting occurred minutes after Trump began his speech at the Butler rally. The visibly injured former president was quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents.
The Secret Service reported that “a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.” They also confirmed that “one spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured.”