'They’re giving up': Biden campaign trolled for pulling down TV ads after Trump assassination attempt

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA: Following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13, the Biden-Harris campaign decided to halt all political communications and pull down their television ads.

The decision was confirmed by a campaign official, who stated, “We are pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible,” as reported by The Hill. 

Suspending political communications after a seismic event, such as the shooting at Trump’s rally, is a common practice. Trump was reportedly grazed by a bullet during this incident at a Republican candidate's event.

President Biden, after being briefed on the incident, issued a statement expressing relief that Trump was safe.

He said, “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

The shooting resulted in the death of one member of the crowd and the shooter, with another audience member remaining in critical condition.

In his first statement on Truth Social, Trump described the incident, saying, “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.”

Joe Biden slammed on social media for pulling ads

The decision by the Biden-Harris campaign to suspend their ads sparked widespread criticism on social media. Many ridiculed Joe Biden, suggesting his campaign knows that their ads may have incited the violence.

"You mean that ads that were insinuating the other side would do what 'actually' happened today?" one posted on X.

"They’re giving up, as they should!" another alleged.

"I am so sick of hearing about Biden pulling ads nationwide as if he should be commended for such a noble gesture. Fact: Biden knows it won’t look good when his current ads refer to his opponent as a democracy-ending Hitler," read a comment.

"I want to know what was in those Biden ads they're pulling," someone else wondered.

"Biden pulling his ads is a clear signal that he is dropping out of the race," another insisted.

Security challenges highlighted as FBI and Secret Service respond

Early Sunday morning, the FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh office, held a news conference late Saturday night, stating that the shooting was being investigated as an “attempted assassination.”

He said the investigation was ongoing, with assistance from the Secret Service and state and local agencies.

Law enforcement sources informed CBS News that the shooter used an AR-style rifle from a distance of 200-300 feet and was positioned on top of a shed outside the security perimeter set by the Secret Service.

Rojek expressed surprise that the gunman managed to fire multiple shots and noted that authorities were cautious about suspicious packages found near the shooter’s location.

“There was identification of suspicious packages around where the shooter was, and so we deployed, in an abundance of caution, bomb assets, to make sure those were cleared for investigators,” Rojek said. He did not confirm whether any packages were found.

Rojek highlighted the difficulties in securing public venues against determined attackers. Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens commented on the Secret Service’s efforts, saying, “It is incredibly difficult to have a venue open to the public and to secure that against any possible threat, against a very determined attacker. That’s a huge lift to try and do it.”

No Secret Service officials were present at the news conference. Earlier in the evening, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi assured the public that “Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe.”

In a subsequent statement, the agency detailed the incident, saying, “During Former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at approximately 6:15 pm, a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased."

"US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. This incident is currently under investigation, and the Secret Service has notified the FBI," the statement concluded, as reported by CBS News.

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