Insights from Jonathan Karl’s book highlight Trump’s reaction to Pennsylvania shooting

Jonathan Karl’s new book details President Donald Trump’s response following a Pennsylvania campaign shooting

President Donald Trump’s immediate reaction after being shot during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania reportedly focused on media coverage rather than his own safety.

ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, in his new book, revealed that Trump repeatedly ignored standard Secret Service protocols during the incident.

According to Karl, agents testified to Congress that the President resisted instructions to stay down, prioritizing the ability to continue rallying his supporters in the moment.

“When he gets to the hospital, his aides are in other cars. As he arrives, he asks, ‘How is it playing? How does it look on TV?’ That was his first thought,” Karl told The View on Tuesday.

Karl also noted that the president’s attention quickly returned to political and administrative matters, including plans for White House renovations and his legislative priorities, rather than personal recovery.

The book portrays Trump as intensely focused on maintaining his public image and advancing his agenda, even under life-threatening circumstances.

It also highlights his ongoing engagement with his base, as co-host Whoopi Goldberg asked Karl about the president’s attentiveness to supporters such as farmers and ranchers.

According to Karl, Trump feels well-positioned in Congress and is largely preoccupied with how his actions are perceived by the public, reflecting a pattern of prioritizing optics and political strategy even in high-risk moments.