Nancy Mace speaks on political violence after apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Mace reacted Saturday night to an apparent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally.

“Right now we’re praying for President Trump and most especially for the audience member of his rally who was killed tonight by political violence,” Mace said while speaking to News 2 in downtown Charleston.

Mace, who represents South Carolina’s First Congressional District, spoke on increased violence in the political world saying her own campaign received daily death threats during her recent contentious primary race.

“I’ve been victim, too, over the years and it’s only gotten worse,” she said. “It’s very dangerous out there with the political violence that we have seen.”

She encouraged people to be mindful of rhetoric. “I would be mindful about how we talk to one another. Social media has really distanced us from other humans, from our neighbors, and from people in our community.”

Mace said she hopes to see increased security at next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where thousands are expected to attend. 

“We should be able to convene and rally and support President Trump as our nominee without fear of being shot at.”

Mace said she wanted to know what the Secret Service was going to do to ramp up their protection around Donald Trump and “what they’re going to do to make sure we have a peaceful convention. Is it going to be interrupted by someone from the far left who wants to shoot Republicans.”

Mace is scheduled to speak at the convention on Wednesday night and said she now plans to re-write her speech. “I have a lot to say about the culpability of people who seek to demonize Republicans, demonize the right and left because of our political views,” she said.

Meanwhile Michael B. Moore, Mace’s democratic opponent in the 1st Congressional District race, released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying political violence had no place in America. “I’m praying for the safety of all those who attended former President Trump’s rally today,” he said.

Donald Trump posted an update on his Truth Social site roughly two and a half hours after the shooting saying a bullet “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,” he said in the post. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

The shooter was killed by the secret service, according to authorities. Few details are known about the assailant as of Saturday night.