A GoFundMe page created to support victims and families of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump has surpassed $200,000.
Suspected gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks killed one man and seriously wounded two others when he opened fire Saturday night at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump in the ear.
The fundraising page, launched by Meredith O’Rourke, a Trump adviser and national finance director for his 2024 presidential campaign, has raised $240,238 from 3,300 donations as of Sunday morning. The fundraising effort is aiming to reach a goal of $1 million to support victims and their families.
O’Rourke wrote in the GoFundMe description that the page is authorized by Trump.
Evan Vucci/AP
“President Donald Trump has authorized this account as a place to donate to supporters and families injured or killed in today’s brutal and horrific assassination attempt,” she wrote. “All donations will go to these proud Americans as they grieve and recover. May God bless and unite our nation.”
The former president, who is expected to be confirmed as the Republican presidential nominee at the party’s national convention in Milwaukee that begins Monday, was shot in the right ear around 6:15 p.m. local time during the rally.
Trump was seen with his face covered in blood as security officers quickly moved in. Eyewitnesses reported him saying the word “fight” as he was escorted off stage, to cheers from the crowd.
Later that evening, Trump addressed the situation on his Truth Social platform, expressing gratitude to the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift response. He also offered his condolences to the victims’ families.
“I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service and all law enforcement officers for their quick response to the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person who was killed at the rally, as well as the family of another person who was seriously injured,” he wrote.
“It is unbelievable that such an act could happen in our country. Nothing is known to this day about the shooter, who is now deceased. I was hit by a bullet that pierced my right ear. I knew right away that something was wrong, I heard a whistling sound, gunshots, and I immediately felt the bullet pierce my skin. There was a lot of bleeding, so I knew what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He was killed by a Secret Service sniper at the rally, authorities said. Crooks, a registered Republican, graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. No additional details about his background have been released.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
