Conor McGregor reacts to shooting at Donald Trump campaign rally on Saturday
Famed UFC fighter Conor McGregor and former president Donald Trump are quite familiar with one another. The former is a world famous fighter and the latter, on top of his own fame, is a noted fan of boxing and combat sports.
So after Trump was struck in the right ear during a shooting at a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday, McGregor offered a message of support. And true to form for the brash Irish fighter, his statement didn’t hold back much.
“A 78 year old multiple billionaire he should be on a yacht on the med touring golf courses,” McGregor said. “But he is not. He is in Pennsylvania spitting out bullets! Running for the love of his country! God speed Donald! God bless the United States.”
And McGregor was not the only sports figure to offer words of support or calls for unity and empathy in the aftermath.
“Violence deserves no place in this world. Praying for President Trump and his family. Wishing for a speedy recovery,” golfer Bryson DeChambeau said on social media.
ESPN talent and Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III also added his voice to the response online.
“I don’t care how much you love or hate President Donald Trump, now is not the time to play politics. Pray for him, his family and anyone else impacted by today’s shooting,” Griffin said.
And Rich Eisen, who hosts a popular sports talk show, chimed in, adding in plaudits for the Secret Service for the response.
“Thank you to the heroes of the Secret Service who threw themselves into what appeared to be a hail of bullets. Find whoever did this and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. None of this is OK. Praying for everyone there in Butler PA,” Eisen said.
While the events of the apparent shooting are still unconfirmed, early reports indicate the alleged shooter fired multiple shots from a building outside the security perimeter. Trump appeared with a bloodied right ear amidst the chaos and is doing OK per a campaign announcement after he was taken to safety and for medical attention.
Two other members of the crowd were also shot, according to reports, and one is dead. The shooter has also reportedly been killed.
DeChambeau, Griffin and Eisen are not the lone trio of sports voices to offer some remarks about the story, and likely won’t be the last as more details come out and critical details are confirmed and examined about an act of political violence unlike any the United States has seen for several decades.