Several attendees that were on stage behind former President Donald Trump at his rally in Tucson, Arizona on September 12 have reported mysterious eye injuries, raising concerns about safety at political events and prompting an investigation by the Trump campaign.
At least six people who sat behind Trump on the right side of the stage at Ronstadt Music Hall experienced severe eye irritation and other symptoms shortly after the event. Mayra Rodriguez, a prominent Republican figure and former Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life advocate, was among those affected.
“As soon as we left and we stepped outside, my eyes were burning,” Rodriguez told News 4 Tucson. Her condition worsened during her 90-minute drive home to Phoenix, necessitating an emergency room visit. By the following morning, Rodriguez reported being nearly blind, stating, “I can’t see anything when I try to open my eyes. I see a bright light. It hurts, it hurts a lot to open my eyes.”
Emergency room staff reportedly asked Rodriguez if she had been sprayed with something, which she denied. Doctors were unable to determine the exact cause of her injuries.
Other victims, including a brother and sister who wished to remain anonymous, described similar experiences.
“It kept getting worse and worse, my eyes were watering a lot, my nose started running, then I started feeling my face get really flushed and my neck felt like it was on fire,” the sister reported. Her brother described the pain as “unbearable,” adding, “my eyes were red like hell.”
The localized nature of the incidents has raised questions, as only those seated in a specific section behind Trump reported symptoms.
“Why only the group where Trump came in?” Rodriguez asked.
The Trump campaign has acknowledged the reports and stated they are investigating.
“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,” a senior campaign advisor said in a statement.
The U.S. Secret Service reported no known threats to the former president during the event and stated they were not made aware of the situation at the time.
As of Tuesday following the rally, Rodriguez’s vision had begun to improve.
But the mysterious injuries, just days after the second assassination attempt on Trump, has left many questions unanswered and sparked concerns about potential targeted attacks at political events.