Former president Donald Trump was rushed off stage as gunshots rang out during a rally.

Reuters confirmed that multiple gunshots rang out while Trump addressed a crowd in Pennsylvania. As they rang out, he flinched and started holding his right ear. Moments later, there appeared to be blood on his face as the Secret Service whisked him away.

The United States Secret Service confirmed Donald Trump is now safe via a statement: “An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”

The former president’s campaign has also spoken out to confirm he is ‘fine’: “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.”

“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”

The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden has received an initial briefing on the situation.

Donald Trump after the suspected shooting (Anna Moneymaker / Staff)

Fox News’ Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram spoke to an eyewitness who was in the front row at the rally when the chaos started to unfold. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he heard ‘8-10 shots’ from what appeared to be a .22 or small caliber weapon. He also claimed multiple people in the crowd may have been hit and were down.

Butler County District Attorney told WTAE that one person from the crowd is believed to be dead following the shooting. However, they don’t have any information on the shooter at the time of writing.

The venue has been abandoned with chairs knocked over and the stage closed off by yellow police tape. Armed law enforcement officers were spotted on a roof near the stage where Trump was standing.

Donald Trump being escorted off stage by the Secret Service. (Anna Moneymaker / Staff)

Support for the former president has come from across the spectrum, including Senator Bernie Sanders, who said in a tweet: “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”

The incident comes in the middle of a tight reelection campaign, with Trump battling Joe Biden for the White House. There’s not much to separate the two men in the polls, though Trump has a slight lead according to most polling models. Voting day is just four months away, on Tuesday November 5.

Donald Trump has told his supporters he could now face up to 561 years in prison after being indicted for the third time.

According to The Hill, the email said: “With Crooked Joe’s corrupt DOJ having unlawfully INDICTED yours truly yet again, reports indicate that I could now face a combined 561 YEARS in prison from the Left’s witch hunts.”

The former US President was charged with four counts of felony related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

This is in addition to his other two indictments, one of which accuses him of falsifying business records with Stormy Daniels.

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The second, which was handed down in June this year, saw Trump also indicted for allegedly mishandling classified documents, charging him with another 37 felonies.

Between all three indictments, Trump faces 78 felonies, and, if he were given the maximum prison time for all charges, Politico estimated he faces 641 years in prison.

However, it is unlikely that Trump will face 641 years in prison as he would have to be convicted on all counts for the maximum amount of prison time.

Of all the crimes Trump has been charged with, none of them requires a minimum sentence, meaning if he is found guilty on all counts, he will likely face much less than 641 years in prison. Several of the sentences could also be served concurrently.

While all this has been going on, Trump has taken little time off from campaigning.

Speaking about Trump’s upcoming court dates, Republican strategist Ari Fleischer told AP news: “It can take him off the road, but he just has another platform on which to have his voice be heard. To him, it’s all one campaign.”

Trump’s email on Tuesday asked his supporters for financial aid to help support his legal fees.

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Trump’s primary fundraising group has spent more than $40 million on legal fees just in the first half of this year.

The former President has referred to the charges as ‘corruption, scandal, and failure’ on his Truth Social Platform.

Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a joint statement calling the recent indictment ‘the most serious and most consequential thus far and will stand as a stark reminder to generations of Americans that no one, including a president of the United States, is above the law’.

“The legal process must continue to move forward without any outside interference,” they said.

Apart from these current charges, Trump may also face additional charges as the District Attorney in Fulton County District investigates Trump’s efforts into overturning the election results in Georgia.

Trump is expected to appear in front of court this Thursday (August 3) in Washington DC.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is ‘pretty screwed’ with the indictments against him, according to law professor and legal expert Danny Karon.

While he might be the frontrunner by some distance to become the Republican nominee for the 2024 US election, setting the stage for a rematch with President Joe Biden, Donald Trump is in all sorts of trouble.

There are a grand total of four separate criminal cases in which he has been indicted over incidents that occurred before, during and after his time in the White House.

The first indictment came after a Manhattan grand jury decided to indict Trump over claims that he paid ‘hush money’ to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump said he was ‘completely innocent’ and denounced the indictment as ‘political persecution and election interference’ with that case scheduled for trial in March 2024.

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His next indictment involved over 37 felony counts concerning alleged ‘wilful retention’ of national security information, with the indictment stating he stored classified documents at his Mar-A-Lago home. Trump has pleaded not guilty, and a trial is scheduled for May 2024.

Indictment number three is about alleged efforts to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power following Trump’s loss in the 2020 election including the 6 January insurrection attempt.

Trump maintains his innocence and called the third indictment ‘the latest corrupt chapter’ from Biden’s administration, claiming the current president and the Department of Justice are trying to ‘interfere in the 2024 presidential election’.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Then we arrive at indictment number four after a grand jury in Georgia indicted Trump and 18 others over allegations of participating in a ‘conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favour of Trump’.

But what does all of this mean for Donald Trump and what are the chances of him ever seeing the inside of a prison cell for any of these indictments?

According to law professor Danny Karon, the former US president is ‘pretty screwed’ given the array of charges against him, with the legal expert telling UNILAD that Trump would be ‘most scared of’ the fourth indictment.

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“The big threat is the Georgia case because it involves a RICO violation,” Karon explained.

“It carries a sentence of up to 20 years in jail. What the State of Georgia here said was that the Trump campaign was a criminal enterprise that was engaged in all these different illegalities for the purpose of overturning the Georgia vote.”

“That’s what fuels the RICO case that potentially brings 20 years potentially in jail for all 19 defendants.”

While Trump has been claiming that he faces hundreds of years in prison he is highly unlikely to receive such long sentences, but he is facing the prospect of going to prison and getting out could be quite difficult for the 77-year-old.

Donald Trump campaign website

The law professor explained that while Trump can pardon his way out of some of the other charges made against him, if he returns to the White House there’s nothing he can do if he’s found guilty in Georgia.

Karon explained: “The federal government can’t interfere in state business. So whereas he’s got the authority to meddle with federal results, he can’t do the same in Georgia.

“The only way Georgia case could get flipped is by this outfit called the State Board of Pardons [and Paroles]. And the State Board of Pardons can’t undo a conviction of felony conviction for the first five years.”

“So whereas in a lot of states, the governor could just swoop in and pardon someone, not in Georgia.”

Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images

On the other indictments, Trump could pardon himself if he wins the presidency next year, or hope that the is in the White House will be friendly enough to grant him a pardon.

However, while Donald Trump could go to prison if found guilty, that doesn’t necessarily stop him from becoming president.

Karon said there was ‘nothing in the US constitution that precludes a felon from serving as president’ as the only requirements were being a natural-born US citizen, 35 or older and having been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.

“Textually speaking he can rule from his prison cell,” the legal expert said.

“There’s no procedure because it’s never happened, it’s never been contemplated. Considering the state of American voters they might vote him in just on account of all that because that’s how crazy things have gotten here.”

Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

With no procedure in place for what to do if the person who voted for a president is in a jail cell, the U.S. would essentially be flying blind if Trump went to prison and won the election.

Karon told UNILAD that this might be a situation where the vice president is called upon in the absence of the Commander-in-Chief.

He added: “My understanding is that if the president’s incapacitated, and I suspect this would qualify although it’s never happened before.

“It could be no different than if you were gravely injured or died. The vice president would assume the responsibilities.”

Of course, all this discussion hinges on Trump being found guilty in the cases against him, particularly as far as the fourth indictment in Georgia is concerned.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Trump has pleaded not guilty while Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis has said of the case: ‘I refuse to fail’.

Karon called that comment a ‘heavy’ one and remarked that he ‘wouldn’t want a prosecutor saying that about me’.

The former president’s fate hinges on the verdicts of his trials and whether he can secure the presidency for a second time, as Karon dismissed the chance of Joe Biden giving his opponent a pardon, saying: “If Biden didn’t want it happening, he could shut it down. But he’s not so I can’t fathom that Biden would.”

Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images

As for his chances of actually winning the election, the law professor said that it appeared as though the indictments against Trump were boosting his popularity among Republican voters.

“Scarily speaking it’s helping. He’s leading in the polls, he’s leading the field of Republicans despite highly capable, qualified competition,” Karon said, and polling does show the former president a significant distance ahead of all other GOP challengers.

He stated: “The question I think is can he run, can he win the nomination and can he serve as president if convicted? The answer is yes.”

The Colorado Supreme Court has removed Donald Trump from the ballot for the 2024 presidential election.

The Court cited an insurrection clause in the US constitution for booting him off, in a 4-3 decision.

The ruling means Trump cannot be an eligible candidate in the US state due to section 3 of the 14th amendment.

This section states: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

“But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

This is reportedly the first time in US history that this specific clause has been cited to disqualify a presidential candidate.

However, the decision hasn’t been set in stone just yet.

It was been placed on hold until an appeal can be held next month.

A district court judge initially said Trump couldn’t be barred from the ballot despite inciting the January 6 insurrection.

The judge’s decision was based on uncertainty on whether the provision in the amendment was meant to ‘cover the presidency’, according to ABC.

So apparently Donald Trump is in the fashion business now.

‘Fashion‘ might be a bit of a push, however, as some people have criticized the former POTUS’ new $399 sneakers.

Trump, who is running for president once again, made a surprise appearance at the Philadelphia Sneaker Con yesterday (February 17), where he announced his new venture.

As you’d expect, the shoes are quite ostentatious.

The high-tops are bright gold and boast the American flag on one side, as well as a large ‘T’ on the other.

They also have red stripes and red and white soles.

They are being branded as the ‘Never Surrender Hi-Tops’ and will set you back a whopping $399 for a pair.

Trump’s new website describes the sneakers as ‘bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump’.

Despite the hefty price tag, however, the shoes are said to have sold out at yesterday’s event.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

People have since had a lot to say about the sneakers, with some hailing the ‘T’ as for ‘trashy’.

Someone penned on X (formerly Twitter): “Aaayyyooo, Trump is at Sneaker Con selling his Trump shoes for $399.00 …and they sold out!! This s… is wild!!”

Replying to the post, one person asked: “This is a parody, right?”

“T for Trashy,” wrote another.

Speaking at the event, Trump expressed his hopes that his business will be a ‘big success’.

“There’s a lot of emotion in this room. This is something that I’ve been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. And I think it’s going to be a big success,” he told the crowd.

While some were excited to see the former POTUS, others were less enthused and criticized Sneaker Con for allowing Trump to attend.

This sparked the organization to issue a statement online.

Van

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Aaayyyooo, Trump is at Sneaker Con selling his Trump shoes for $399.00 …and they sold out!! This s… is wild!! 🤣🤣

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7:08 AM · Feb 18, 2024

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It read: “Sneaker Con’s mission is to support and promote sneaker culture through our worldwide live events and digital platforms. We are thankful and appreciative of the sneaker community, and recognize individuals who generate awareness and authentic sneaker related engagement towards our community. #sneakercon.”

UNILAD has contacted Trump’s reps for comment.

The release of the shoes come shortly after Trump was fined a staggering $354 million in a civil law case earlier this week.

He was found guilty of intentionally committing financial fraud over the course of a decade.

Judge Arthur Engoron laid down the ruling on Friday (February 16) and also barred Trump ‘from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in New York for a period of three years’.