US News

Trump lands in Milwaukee for RNCĀ on day after assassination attempt

Former President Donald Trump arrived in Wisconsin Sunday ahead of the Republican National Convention — a day after he survived an assassination attempt at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.

Trumpā€™s distinctive Boeing 757, nicknamed Trump Force One, landed at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee šŸ„€at around 5:45 p.m. local time ahead of the four-day event where RepublicanšŸ…s are set to formally tap him as their nominee.

His visit to the key swing state came after a gunman opened fire at his rally inā™• Butler, Pa. Sunday afternoonā™‰, injuring his right ear.

Former President Donald Trump’s private plane arriving in Milwaukee on July 14, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Trump departing the plane. REUTERS/Cheney Orr

Earlier on Sunday, Trumpź©², 78, said he considered delaying his trip to the key swing state because of the attempt on his life but decided against it.

ā€œBased on yesterdayā€™s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a ā€˜shooter,ā€™ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else,ā€ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ā€œTherefore, I will be leaving for ā„±Milwaukee, as scheduled, at 3:30 P.M. TODAY.ā€

Rą·“unways at Mitchell International Airport were shut down for 30 minutes as Trumpā€™s plane landed as part of security protocolsš’ƒ. 

The US Secret Service announced ahead of the former presidentā€™s arrival that it will not be beefing up security for the convention despite the attempt on Trump’s life. 

Trump supporters wait by Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport during Trump’s arrival. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
People attending a Prayer Vigil for America event at Zeidler Union Square in Milwaukee. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
A woman signing a “Get Well Soon” poster for Trump in Milwaukee. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

ā€œWe are confidā™‘ent in the plans that we have and are moving forward with those plans,ā€ Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Serviceā€™s RNC coordinator, told reporters.

The prešŸŒŸsumptive 2024 Republican nominee is expected to name his running mate at the convention.

He will reportedly be accompanied to the convention by his wife, Melania Trump, who would āœƒbe making a rare appearance on šŸƒthe campaign trail with her husband this cycle.

Trump’s motorcade departing the airport in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
The motorcade passing through downtown Milwaukee. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Trump waving from the back seat of a car in the motorcade. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Security barriers are installed in front of a hotel along the outer perimeter around the 2024 Republican National Convention site at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday, July 14, 2024. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post

Melania, 54, said Sunday that when she watched gunman Thomas Matthew Crooksā€™ ā€œviolent bullet strike my husband ā€¦  I realized my life, and Barronā€™s life, were on the brink of devastatinšŸ’g change.ā€ 

Crooks, 20, was shot and killed by the Secret Service — but not before his bullets bloodied Trump, killed one man and critically wounded two others.