Mysterious eye injuries at Trump Tucson rally raise concerns

Event held at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall took a turn when several individuals began experiencing eye irritation

A recent rally for former President Donald Trump in Tucson, Arizona, left numerous attendees, including prominent figures, complaining about severe eye injuries and lingering symptoms.

The event, held last week at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, took an unexpected turn when several individuals, particularly those seated onstage behind Trump, began experiencing sudden eye irritation and other symptoms.

Mayra Rodriguez, a former Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life advocate, was among the attendees who suffered the most significant eye injuries.

Rodriguez shared that she initially dismissed the irritation as an allergy. However, by the time she arrived home near Phoenix, her symptoms had worsened to the point where she sought emergency medical care. Hospital staff reportedly suggested her symptoms resembled those of a chemical burn.

“At first, I thought it was just allergies, but by the time I got home, I couldn’t see anything when I tried to open my eyes,” Rodriguez said. “It hurts a lot to open them, and I have to constantly use a cold cloth for relief.”

Rodriguez's condition temporarily left her nearly blind, but she reported some improvement in her vision by Tuesday.

Her experience was echoed by several other rallygoers who also sought medical attention for similar symptoms, including redness, burning, and facial swelling.

These injuries primarily affected individuals seated near the stage where Trump entered.

Among the injured was a brother and sister who chose to remain anonymous.

The sister recounted how her eyes began to water, followed by a flushed face and a burning sensation around her neck. Her brother described his eyes as “unbearably red,” requiring him to seek immediate medical care.

Pastor Eli Moreno and his wife, Francesca, were also impacted.

Mrs. Moreno experienced more severe symptoms than her husband, including blurred vision, a runny nose, and facial swelling. Like Rodriguez, she sought medical treatment after the rally.

The cause of these symptoms remains unclear. Some attendees speculated that they might have been exposed to a chemical substance, as medical staff noted the injuries resembled chemical burns.

Despite this, there has been no official confirmation of the cause, and the US Secret Service reported no known threat to Trump during the rally.

Danielle Alvarez, Senior Advisor to the Trump campaign, acknowledged the incidents in a statement, saying, “The Trump campaign has been collecting information. We remain committed to the countless patriots that attend our high-energy, high-impact rallies across the country.”

While the investigation continues, the incident has raised concerns among rallygoers.

Medical professionals are still working to determine what caused the sudden onset of eye injuries among those in attendance. For now, the rally attendees who were affected are focused on recovery, hoping for answers in the near future.

Earlier, unconfirmed reports falsely claimed that an explosive device had been discovered in a vehicle during routine security checks at the rally site in Long island. Law enforcement officials dismissed these reports, stating, “Reports of explosives being found at the site are unfounded.”

Nassau County Police have denied reports suggesting explosives were found near the site of former President Donald Trump’s rally on Long Island.

A police spokesperson said Wednesday that there was “no validity” to the claims, which circulated on social media just hours before Trump’s event at Nassau Coliseum.

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe told Trump during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago that significant resources and coordination would be required to secure his safety, especially after a recent assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach golf course.

On September 15, 2024, an alleged gunman, Ryan Routh, was arrested just hundreds of yards from Trump with an SKS assault rifle and a GoPro camera.

Trump’s team, already frustrated with a lack of security in recent months, has been requesting additional support since a previous attempt on Trump’s life in July.

Furthermore, Trump campaign has promised to keep attendees updated as more information becomes available.