By Baptist Message staff
BUTLER, Pa. (LBM) – Numerous elected officials and faith leaders from Louisiana requested prayers for former President Donald Trump after he survived an apparent assignation attempt during a campaign rally, July 13.
A few minutes into his speech, a popping sound was heard and Trump placed his hand over his right ear before Secret Service agents pulled him to the ground. He signaled to the crowd as he was escorted away.
The Associated Press reported a shooter was dead and an attendee was killed. Two attendees were critically injured.
Secret Service agents, according to the AP, said the shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was killed by agents.
Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn also posted that he is “praying for Louisiana Baptists pastors as they preach tomorrow. I have said before that preaching on the Sunday after 9-11 stands out in my memory above most any other Sunday. Brothers, just ‘Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and ENCOURAGE with great patience and teaching.’ (2 Timothy 4:2).”
Speaker Mike Johnson, also a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, shared that “Kelly and I are praying for President Trump and all the attendees of the campaign rally today in Pennsylvania, and we send our gratitude to the law enforcement who responded at the scene. I have been briefed by law enforcement and am continuing to monitor the developments. This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy shared in a statement:
“Praying that President Trump’s wounds are not serious and for the Americans wounded in the crowd. All violence should be condemned, but particularly political violence which attempts to shape the direction of the country. We do not bow to political terrorists.”
Sen. John Kennedy on X (formerly known as Twitter) thanked God for protecting Trump.
“(My wife) Becky and I are praying for the family of the attendee who died this evening at Pres. Trump’s rally as well as for the quick recovery of all others who are injured. Political violence has no place in America.”
In a post on the social media network Truth Social, Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement officials for their rapid response to the shooting.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured,” he wrote. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
