Ivanka Trump has shared her belief that her late mother, Ivana Trump, was "watching over" her father, Donald Trump, during an assassination attempt on the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Minutes into Donald Trump's speech at the rally in Butler, outside of Pittsburgh, loud popping noises were heard and people crouched down. Trump was struck on his right ear, leaving it bleeding. He was surrounded by Secret Service agents and led from the stage after raising his hand in a clenched fist.
The former president, 78, was taken to the nearby Butler Memorial Hospital. Hours later, the FBI revealed the shooter to be Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He was fatally shot by Secret Service agents. One rally attendee was killed and two others were critically injured, according to The Associated Press.
One day after the shooting, on July 14, Ivanka Trump—who served as a senior adviser to her father along with her husband, Jared Kushner, during his term in office—paid tribute to her late mother as she discussed the shooting.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Ivanka Trump shared a photo of herself hugging her mother as a young girl.
"Two years ago today, my mom passed away," she wrote. "I believe she was watching over Dad last night during the attempt on his life. I miss her every day and pray for the safety of the family and friends she left behind."
As of press time, the post has garnered more than 3 million views.
The post followed another social media statement by Ivanka Trump in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. "Thank you for your love and prayers for my father and for the other victims of today's senseless violence in Butler, Pennsylvania," she said.
"I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country. I love you Dad, today and always."
Donald Trump was married to Ivana Trump between 1977 and 1990. Together they had three children: Donald Trump Jr., 46; Ivanka Trump, 42; and Eric Trump, 40.
Ivana Trump died in July 2022 at the age of 73 due to"blunt impact injuries of torso" sustained during an accidental fall at her Manhattan house, according to the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Some of the former president's other family members also took to social media to speak out following the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Eric Trump posted a picture on X of his father moments after the shooting standing with his arm raised and the caption: "This is the fighter America needs!" This was followed by a separate post saying: "Never surrender!"
Donald Trump Jr. posted the same image on X accompanied by the caption: "He'll never stop fighting to Save America."
The former president's wife Melania Trump, 54, also shared a statement on Sunday morning. In her statement, she thanked Secret Service agents and law enforcement officers for their protection and offered her condolences.
"To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy," she wrote.
The former first lady called Crooks a "monster" who wanted to "ring out Donald's passion—his laughter, ingenuity, love of music and inspiration."
Melania Trump urged Americans not to "forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love," and that "we are all humans, and fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another." She added that "love, compassion, kindness and empathy are necessities."
Since the shooting, Donald Trump has traveled to Milwaukee for this week's Republican National Convention, where he will be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate.
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