Texas political figures react to Trump shooting: 'They try to kill him. It will not work'

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was in the front row at former President Donald Trump's rally Saturday in rural Pennsylvania when gunfire broke out, and he said he heard as many as eight shots and saw a woman nearby who appeared to have been shot.

"At first, I didn't know what it was," Miller told the American-Statesman by phone from the outdoor venue. "Then I heard, 'Pop! Pop!' and knew it was gunfire. Everybody got down, but I stayed standing up to try to see what was going on."

Miller said he was not harmed and did not know the condition of the woman who appeared to have been hit.

Reactions to the shooting from other Texas political figures came swiftly, with many expressing shock and speculating on the political implications for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Trump was shot in the earlobe in a near-miss that is being investigated as an assassination attempt, federal and Pennsylvania state officials confirmed late Saturday.

Cable stations carrying the rally showed the incident, and popping noises could be heard along with screams from people in the crowd at the outdoor event. Trump, with his fist raised, was hurried away by Secret Service agents and appeared to have blood on his ear and cheek as he left the stage.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted a defiant message on the social platform X soon afterward, associating the attack with the criminal charges prosecutors have brought against Trump.

"They try to jail him. They try to kill him. It will not work," Abbott posted at 5:39 Central time. "He is indomitable."

President Joe Biden did not comment on the attack until about 7 p.m. CDT, more than an hour after he received an initial briefing on the shooting.

"I’m grateful to hear that (Trump is) safe and doing well," Biden wrote in a statement sent to the press and posted on social media. "I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information."

Both in his initial statement and in brief televised remarks delivered 15 minutes later, Biden condemned the attack.

"There's no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick," Biden said, speaking from Rehoboth Beach, Del. "It's sick. It's one of the reasons we have to unite the country."

The president — who will probably face Trump in the 2024 presidential election — spoke with Trump and received an updated briefing Saturday night.

Here's how Texas political figures reacted to the shooting:

Former President George W. Bush

"Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life," the 43rd president said in a statement. "And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

Patrick, who enlisted Trump's help in his quest to have Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan ousted in this year's Republican primary, wrote on X Saturday night that he was "shaken by the assassination attempt on President Trump."

He shared a lengthy text message he had sent Trump in the wake of the shooting on social media.

"By the slightest turn of your head in a mere microsecond or the shield of a teleprompter, your life was spared by the Grace of a Merciful and Holy God," Patrick wrote. "I shared with you not long ago, on our flight to Houston, that God has had his hand on you since you first ran for President. That I believe."

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz

"Extraordinary. God bless President Trump," Cruz posted on X, adding a photo of Trump with a blood streak on his face and his fist in the air as Secret Service agents swarmed to his aid.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

"Whoever is responsible must face swift justice," Cornyn wrote. "May we all pray for our country tonight."

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas

"Violence of any kind has no place in our democracy, and I condemn this horrific attack in the strongest possible terms," Allred wrote in a statement. "I pray former President Trump makes a full and complete recovery and am thankful for the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift action."

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin

"Violence begets violence, whether directed at Trump or inspired by him," Doggett wrote in a statement. "I strongly condemn all acts of violence and hope that with quick law-enforcement action, all are safe at the Trump rally and he has suffered no lasting damage. In America, we must make our voices heard by ballots, not bullets."

Doggett's post was widely criticized by people who commented. "Please be better than this Congressman," one person said.

U.S. Rep Michael McCaul, R-Austin

"Thank God President Trump is okay," McCaul said in an emailed statement. "I can only imagine what could have happened had House Democrats been successful in their attempts to terminate his Secret Service detail. This should be a sobering reminder to them and others on the Left that their rhetoric and actions matter.

“Our democratic process will not be deterred by this baseless act, as President Trump so powerfully demonstrated. Millions of Americans will never forget seeing his fist in the air — a symbol of hope, courage, and strength in the face of despicable evil."

U.S. Rep Greg Casar, D-Austin

"I agree with President Biden," Casar wrote in a post on X. "Political violence — against Trump or anyone else — has no place in our politics or our country."

Texas Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio

"Guns have no place at political rallies," Gutierrez wrote in an X post. "Or in elementary schools. Or churches. Or grocery stores. It’s time to stop this madness America."

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont

Phelan described the photo of Trump with a bloodied ear and fist raised as showing "the next President of the United States" in a social media post.

Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and X

"I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," the Tesla entrepreneur, who now makes his home in Texas, said on the platform once known as Twitter. Musk included footage of Trump pumping his fist after the Secret Service rushed to protect him.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso

"Any kind of political violence is absolutely unacceptable," Escobar wrote in an X post. "Prayers for everyone in the line of fire and grateful for law enforcement’s quick response."

State Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro

"God bless President Donald J. Trump," Spiller wrote in an X post. "Please pray for him, his family, others in the line of fire and our country. This is a disastrous day for our country and is an attack on our entire Republic. Thank you to our brave Secret Service agents."

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen

"Political violence is never the answer," Gonzalez wrote. "Thank you to the first responders and Secret Service for doing their job and maintaining order. I pray for former President Trump and our country. We must unite against any violence."

State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano

"Praying for President Trump — and for our Nation," the veteran lawmaker posted. "An attack on a President is an attack on all of us and an attack on everything that makes America great. November — and the White House — here we come!"

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe

"Praying for President (Trump's) safety and for this sick (individual) to be apprehended," Creighton posted.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What Biden, Texas politicians are saying about shooting at Trump rally