Canonsburg, Pennsylvania – A Pittsburgh man who witnessed the attempted assassination of former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania last weekend told Fox News Digital that he was stunned to see the Republican candidate say “Fight!” and raise his fist before the crowd cheered moments after he was shot.
Bob Crankovich said he was sitting just behind Trump on his right shoulder when the rally began.
Minutes into the rally, suspect Thomas Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, tried to kill Trump, shooting himself in the ear as Trump turned at the last moment to present diagrams of his border policy.
Crankovich, who has been active in local Republican circles since 2016, said this was about his fourth Trump rally and that Saturday’s began like the others, with attendees decked out in red hats and American flag-themed costumes.
Trump rally speaker who tended to slain attendee hopes horrific incident will unite nation
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and was hastily carried off the stage. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump supporters wait for the former president in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Robert Crankovich II)
But what happened next – after shots rang out and Ms Crankovich saw Mr Trump collapse and be put into a chokehold by a Secret Service agent – was just as shocking, she said.
“Unfortunately, as soon as the shots rang out, I immediately ducked down for cover,” he said. “I happened to look up at the president about the time I heard the second or third shot, and he had already taken cover.”
“So it was hard to watch. But as soon as the president stood up, everybody was yelling in support of the president.”
Pennsylvania Republican activist who attended 20 Trump rallies says Butler rally was the least safe he’s ever been to
Trump supporters wait for the former president in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Robert Crankovich II)
He said this response, and the fact that Trump went ahead with plans to speak at the Republican National Convention despite the near-fatal accident and injuries, are reasons he believes the Republican nominee is the right person at the right time for America.
“President Trump’s response really reflects the feeling of the country. We want to see a comeback,” he said.
“What we need are strong leaders who know the present moment and know how to rise to the moment and live in the moment.”
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(From left) Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, former US President Donald Trump and Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump at the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty)
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Beaver County Republican Party Vice Chair Rico Elmore echoed Crankovich’s sentiments and suggested the tragic incident will bring the nation even closer together during trying times.
“I believe there will be a sense of unity across all political parties, whether Democrats, Republicans or any other party, because there is a growing recognition that this can happen, this can happen anywhere,” he said Monday.
“You go out and someone could do something like this. You go to a rally and someone could do something like this based on their political viewpoint or opinion.”
