Axios

The attempted assassination of former President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally Saturday has raised new concerns about security at this week's Republican National Convention.

Why it matters: The shooting underscores the threats of political violence against elected leaders that have been rising for years.

Several House and Senate committees are launching investigations into federal law enforcement's handling of Saturday's assassination attempt against former President Trump.

Why it matters: The shooting, in which the ex-president was struck in the ear and a bystander was killed, has touched off a bipartisan flurry of congressional scrutiny into security for presidential candidates.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is calling for the nation to focus on policies and not the "demonization of Donald Trump" as America figures out how to move forward after the assassination attempt on the former president.

Why it matters: Scalise was shot in 2017 and is using his experience to add nuance to the calls for unity.

President Biden said Sunday he has directed an independent national security review to investigate the shooting at former President Trump's Saturday campaign rally.

Driving the news: The attempted assassination of the presumptive GOP nominee just days before the Republican National Convention highlighted rampant fears of political violence and underscored scrutiny of the Secret Service's ability to protect against such attacks.

President Biden is rescheduling his trip to Austin, Texas previously scheduled for Monday following the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

Why it matters: The Biden campaign effectively paused all activity following the shooting at Trump's rally on Saturday in Pennsylvania.

The assassination attempt on former President Trump was shocking — but not surprising.

Why it matters: Everything in America has turned political. Everything political turned visceral. And everything visceral turned into the possibility of unspeakable violence like this.

As lawmakers grapple with the fallout and shock of the attempted assassination of former President Trump, many eyes are turning toward the Republican National Convention and how the show must go on.

Meanwhile, another attempt on a former president's life from over 100 years ago is back in the spotlight and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) reminds us all that President Biden isn't off the hook just yet.

Here's what you missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, July 14.

Leaders from around the world weighed in this weekend on the news of the attempted assassination of former president and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Why it matters: While any and all political violence in the United States is likely to generate a global response, many national leaders have direct relationships with the former president, unlike most challengers in the typical American contest to be the next commander-in-chief.

Melania Trump said in a statement on Sunday that when she watched the "violent bullet strike" former President Trump, she "realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of a devastating change."

The big picture: In a lengthy and personal statement, she urged the country to "ascend above the hate" and remember that "every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family."

A bipartisan pair of House members said Sunday they plan to introduce a bill to enhance Secret Service protections for President Biden, former President Trump and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Why it matters: The legislation is a response to an assassination attempt against Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, in which the former president was struck in the ear.

After the shooting at former President Trump's rally on Saturday, authorities took 18 witnesses to a building on the Butler Farm Show grounds, Axios has learned.

• The witnesses were interviewed for several hours by investigators from the Secret Service, Homeland Security, the FBI and the Pennsylvania state police, according to David James Stewart, one of the witnesses.

The attempted assassination of former President Trump has heightened concerns in Congress about member security, with some lawmakers even cancelling events and closing their offices in response.

Why it matters: The shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania, in which Trump was struck in his right ear, comes against the backdrop of a steady rise in threats against members of Congress.

America is reeling.

• The attempted assassination of Donald Trump, 115 days before Election Day, has ushered in a dark new chapter of political violence — and redefined a campaign already packed with historic firsts, Axios' Zachary Basu writes.

Why it matters: On the eve of a Republican National Convention built on themes of victimhood and political persecution, Trump came inches — literally — from martyrdom.

Republicans couldn't ask for more of a contrast, with President Biden spending the last two weeks in a standoff with Democrats who fear he's too feeble to campaign effectively.

• Trump, who said on Truth Social that he felt the bullet "ripping through" his skin, will be welcomed in Milwaukee tomorrow as a hero, a fighter — even, to elements of his evangelical base, a messiah.

The Biden campaign said it's "pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible."

• Why it matters: How the president restarts his campaign is a much harder call, Axios' Hans Nichols writes.

Advisers say Biden's response to the shocking assassination attempt gives him an opening to try to lower the overall temperature in the country.

• It could reinvigorate his presidency, and quell criticism from elected Democrats that he isn't up to the job.

🕶️ Behind the scenes: Before the shooting, Biden advisers were unanimous that he needs to take his fight directly to Trump.

BUTLER, Pa. — When the shots rang out a little over six minutes into former President Trump's remarks, I was standing on a chair in the media area to get a good view of the stage, Axios national politics reporter Sophia Cai writes.

• Suddenly Trump went down. Some of his supporters screamed; others ducked on the risers behind him while others stood up, exposing themselves while trying to see where the shots were coming from.

📷 AP's Evan Vucci — who took the photo above, and the instantly iconic image of Trump with flag and fist — told CNN's Kasie Hunt this morning:

• "I covered Iraq and Afghanistan, so I've been in these situations before. ... As a still photographer, I don't get a second chance."

At an overnight news conference, the FBI officially labeled the attack an "assassination attempt," but said a motive hasn't been determined.

President Biden, speaking on-camera at 8:13 p.m. ET in Rehoboth Beach, Del.: "I have tried to get ahold of Donald. He's with his doctors.  ... [A]pparently he's doing well. I plan on talking to him shortly, I hope, when I get back to the telephone."

• "Look, there is no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this."

Chris LaCivita, a Pittsburgh native and combat-wounded Marine, is one of two leaders of former President Trump's campaign, along with Susie Wiles. Wiles and LaCivita said in a statement last night:

"President Trump is doing well and grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action. 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. As our party's nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again."

With former President Trump on the brink of announcing his running-mate, Bruce Mehlman and his "Age of Disruption" Substack mapped the home states of U.S. vice presidents, 1789-2024.

• Go deeper: See his "Six-Chart Sunday" special about V.P.s.

A person involved in planning the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which opens tomorrow, told ABC's Jonathan Karl that the convention won't just go ahead — it'll continue "with a vengeance."

• Mike spent yesterday afternoon roaming around the Fiserv Forum, the convention's main hall (usually the home of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks).

Here's a behind-the-scenes view of what you'll be seeing this week.

Former President Trump urged Americans to "stand United, and show our True Character" in an early Sunday morning post after surviving an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally the night before.

Why it matters: Trump has often resorted to violent language against his political opponents but was more measured in his Truth Social post, invoking religious language and thanking God for surviving after being shot in the ear.

President Biden was raked over the coals by a group of center-left House Democrats on Saturday in what sources said was a "tense" – even "awful" – meeting aimed at stemming defections on Capitol Hill.

Why it matters: Biden got particularly animated towards a question from Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) about slipping public confidence in his leadership as commander-in-chief, according to several members in the meeting.

America is reeling.

• The attempted assassination of Donald Trump has ushered in a dark new chapter of political violence — and redefined an election campaign already packed with historic firsts.

Why it matters: On the eve of a Republican National Convention built on themes of victimhood and political persecution, Trump came inches — literally — from martyrdom.

After two weeks on the political sidelines amid Democratic panic over President Biden's candidacy, Republicans were thrust back into the spotlight on Saturday when former President Trump was shot in the ear.

Zoom in: The incident has made a party already bullish about its chances in November even more confident going into next week's Republican National Convention.

For President Biden, it was an easy decision to reach out to former President Trump, pull down his political ads and return to the White House.

Why it matters: How he restarts his campaign is a much harder call.

BUTLER, Pa. — When the shots rang out a little over six minutes into former President Trump's remarks, I was standing on a chair in the media area to get a good view of the stage.

• Suddenly Trump went down. Some of his supporters screamed; others ducked on the risers behind him while still others stood up, exposing themselves while trying to see where the shots were coming from.

Former President Trump was escorted off stage by Secret Service agents after a series of gunshots during a rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Driving the news: The attack was an "assassination attempt" but a motive has not yet been determined, the FBI said in an overnight press conference. One shooter has been "tentatively identified," Pennsylvania State Police said at the presser.

Former President Trump was injured in a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

Driving the news: There has been bipartisan condemnation for the attack — which the FBI called an assassination attempt in an overnight press conference — that killed at least one spectator and wounded two others.

BUTLER, Pa. — David James Stewart was trying to get a glimpse of a Trump rally after clocking out from a nearby Sheetz convenience store on Saturday. He ended up becoming a witness to an assassination attempt.

Why it matters: Stewart was standing right below the Butler, Pennsylvania building where the shooter was and took a video, later seized by law enforcement, he told Axios.

House Republican leaders said Saturday they will hold a hearing with the U.S. Secret Service and other federal law enforcement officials after former President Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Why it matters: The Secret Service said the shooter and one rally attendee are dead, with two more spectators critically injured, Axios' Sophia Cai and Erin Doherty reported.

President Biden spoke to former President Trump on Saturday, per a White House official, after gunshots were fired at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Driving the news: Biden also spoke to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy, per the White House.

The shooting at former President Trump's Pennsylvania rally on Saturday is one of more than a dozen attacks on American presidents, presidents-elect or presidential candidates in U.S history.

Driving the news: Trump is safe and has said he was shot in the upper ear. He was photographed with blood on his face and fell to the ground before a crowd of onlookers.

A shooting that killed at least one spectator and left former President Trump with blood on his face during a rally in Pennsylvania was met with swift bipartisan condemnation on Saturday.

The big picture: Members of Congress, cabinet officials and former presidents quickly denounced the incident, saying violence has no place in U.S. politics.

Former President Trump said that he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part" of his right ear at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Driving the news: "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Saturday evening, hours after he was ushered off the rally stage with blood on his face.

An image of former President Trump spattered with blood after he was grazed by a bullet at a Pennsylvania rally swiftly became a symbol around which Republicans in Congress rallied.

Why it matters: Scores of Republican lawmakers posted photos of a defiant and bloodied Trump on social media – and not just conservatives or close Trump allies.

Secret Service escorted former President Trump off stage after gunshots rang out at his rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Driving the news: Trump was reported to be "fine" and is currently at a local medical facility, his campaign said.