California leaders condemn apparent attack on former President Trump

California leaders condemned an apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania Saturday.

“Violence has NO place in our democracy,” Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted. “My thoughts are with President Trump and everyone impacted at the rally today.”

While speaking at a rally outside of Pittsburgh, Trump grabbed the side of his head and ducked down after loud bangs that resembled gunfire. Secret Service agents rushed to surround Trump, who appeared to be bleeding from around his ear as he pumped a fist in the air and was rushed from the stage.

In a statement, the Secret Service said that a shooter had fired from “an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” before being killed by agents. One spectator was killed and two were “critically injured” in the shooting, the statement said.

In his own statement, Trump said he had been “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

Trump also thanked the Secret Service, and extended his condolences to the rally attendees who were killed and injured.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) wrote on the social media platform X that such violence “has no place in our society.”

“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” Pelosi wrote.

Her husband was attacked in their San Francisco home in 2022. Pelosi wrote that she hoped attendees of the rally were safe.

Both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also condemned the violence.

“It’s sick. It’s sick,” Biden said of the shooting during a news briefing.

Harris said she and her husband Doug Emhoff were “relieved” that Trump was not seriously injured.

“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” Harris said. “We are grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their immediate action.

“Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”

Sen. Alex Padilla wrote there “is no place in our democracy for political violence,” and that he was “keeping the former President and those attending his rally in my thoughts.”

“Grateful for law enforcement’s quick action to protect those in attendance,” he wrote.

Sen. Laphonza Butler, appointed by Newsom to serve out the remainder of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term, wrote that her “thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump and his family as well as all the Americans who were present at the rally. We must not allow political violence to become acceptable in our democracy.”

Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), who is running to fill Butler’s seat as California’s next U.S. senator, also issued a statement.

“Horrified by this apparent assassination attempt,” Schiff wrote.

“There is no place for political violence in our democracy. Absolutely none,” he wrote. “Grateful for the swift response by law enforcement and Secret Service. Wishing President Trump a swift recovery.”

Schiff’s Republican opponent in the Senate race, former Dodgers star first baseman Steve Garvey, wrote on X that his “thoughts and prayers are with President Trump for a speedy recovery and with the families of the innocent rally supporters who were tragically affected.”

He also praised “the bravery of the Secret Service members who courageously protected the former president and everyone present.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report