Biden briefed on shooting at Trump rally

REHOBOTH, DEL—President Biden was briefed on Saturday on the apparent shooting at former President Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, according to the White House.

The president received an initial briefing as of 6:45 p.m. As of 7:10 p.m., he received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, director of the United States Secretary Service, Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, and Liz Sherwood-Randall, Homeland Security adviser.

The president’s chief of staff Jeff Zients, counselor Steve Ricchetti, and deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini also participated in the briefing.

Vice President Harris, who held a campaign event in Philadelphia on Saturday, has also received an initial briefing on the incident at Trump’s rally. 

Biden is at his beach house in Rehoboth, Del., for the weekend. When the news of the apparent shots at the Pennsylvania rally broke, he was attending 5:30 p.m. mass at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church.

He left the church at 6:19 p.m., and while he was walking out, reporters traveling with the president asked if he had been briefed on the shooting at the Trump rally. He responded, “No.”

Secret Service shared on X that it “implemented protective measures and the former President is safe,” calling it an active investigation.

Trump’s campaign has released a statement saying that the former president “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) also said on X that he was briefed on the situation in his home state and said that state police are on the scene and working with federal and local partners.