Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) warned that the United States has entered dangerous waters after Saturday’s historic events, which he described as “a wake-up call” for the country.
Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sustaining an injury to his ear. Trump was able to raise his fist to the crowd before leaving, signaling that he was OK. Kelly, who was attending the rally in his district with his wife and grandchildren, stressed the need for people to “pray for the United States of America,” and to pray for the shooting’s victims.
“Yesterday was a wake-up call for all of America,” Kelly said on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom. “Why in the world would we resort to the same tactics as they do in third world countries? If you do not like the person who’s running for an office, just don’t vote for them. If you think the answer to all of that is ‘you must kill them,’ then there is something wrong. We have truly slipped so far from whom we are when one and a half million men and women in uniform have died to give us this opportunity, and we’re so casual about what is going on.”
Kelly added that he has observed Trump since 2016 and that he has never seen anyone undergo this much scrutiny and turmoil when running for office. Beyond surviving an assassination attempt, Trump is also fighting numerous legal battles while campaigning for president in the 2024 presidential election.
When asked about the mood among the rally attendees amid the shooting, Kelly described it as a “surreal” feeling, noting that people were in disbelief that such an event was happening in their county and country. Kelly also reminded people that while they are entitled to free speech, he asked them to “be careful” about what speech they put out.
On X, Kelly asked his followers to take time to pray for the nation, Trump, and the victims of the shooting. He argued that now is a time for unity for everyone “to come together as Americans.”
On this Sunday, a day of prayer, I encourage everyone to take a moment to pray for our Nation, for President Trump, and for the victims of yesterday’s shooting in Butler. This is a time for unity and for everyone to come together as Americans.
— Rep. Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyPA) July 14, 2024
Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick was also at the rally and stated on Sunday that a rally attendee who was behind him had been hit by one of the bullets, and was “bleeding very badly.” He has encouraged the public to come together and condemn political violence.
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The shooting resulted in one rally attendee getting killed and two others injured, with Corey Comperatore identified as the killed victim. Comperatore was a former fire chief from the area, and “dove on his family to protect them last night,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) said during a press conference.
In the wake of the shooting, the Trump campaign has started a fundraiser to support the victims. As of Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $1.5 million.