TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former U.S. President Donald Trump was shot in the ear and injured while speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a campaign rally on Saturday (July 13), eliciting sympathy and well-wishes from world leaders, including Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

Lai quickly went on the social media platform X to express his condemnation of political violence and his wish for a speedy recovery for the former U.S. president.

President Lai posted on the social platform X, “My thoughts and prayers are with former U.S. President Trump and I wish him a swift recovery. Political violence of any form is never acceptable in our democracies. I offer my sincere condolences to the victims affected by the attack.”

When Trump was at the podium, addressing a crowd that had assembled for a political rally, several gunshots were heard, with one striking Trump in the ear. He was quickly surrounded by the Secret Service before safely being taken away in a nearby car.

Trump also commented on the event via social media in the evening. “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 and shots, and I immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"