Presumptive 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday reflected on the “very surreal experience” of being shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Trump was the target of the assassination attempt, suffering a graze on his ear. He was reportedly wearing a large white bandage over his right ear. New York Post “I was supposed to be dead,” he said in one of his first interviews after his near-death experience.
“The doctors at the hospital said they'd never seen anything like this, it's a miracle,” Trump said, according to the New York Post.
“I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be dead,” the former president continued. “I was supposed to be dead.”
Extended Clip: The moment President Trump appears to escape assassination attempt in Pennsylvania
🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸🙏 pic.twitter.com/ok4XCX47z5
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 13, 2024
Trump told the outlet that he was saved because he had turned his head in time to read a chart about illegal immigration, and he reportedly had part of his ear blown off and blood on his forehead and cheek.
Seconds after he was shot, Trump asked the US Secret Service agents guarding him to remove his shoes. Trump told the New York Post that the Secret Service hit him “so hard” that his “tight” shoes came off. The Republican candidate praised the agents who neutralized the would-be assassin who shot at him from the roof of a nearby building.
“They took him down with one bullet between the eyes,” Trump told the outlet, pointing to the bridge of his nose.
“They've done an amazing job,” he added. “It feels surreal for all of us.”
The suspect was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks. according to The FBI was notified. The would-be assassin, 20, was a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of the rally.
An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was recovered from the scene next to the suspect's body, two law enforcement officials said. The New York TimesThe gun was reportedly purchased by Crooks' father, and explosives were found in the vehicle he was driving. according to To the Wall Street Journal. (RELATED: 'Luckiest Motherfucker': Bill Maher Says It 'Doesn't Matter' Who Democrats Run After Trump Assassination Attempt)
According to the outlet, Trump also claimed that doctors at Butler Memorial Hospital have never seen anyone survive being shot with an AR-15.
“A lot of people say it's either luck or God that I'm still here,” Trump told the outlet.
Trump insisted he wanted to carry on speaking despite the shooting.
The former president also referred to a photograph of himself raising his fist in front of the American flag and shouting “Fight!”, saying, “Usually you have to die to get an iconic photo.”
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) July 13, 2024
Trump reportedly watched the video of the assassination attempt for the first time while giving the interview.
Trump is considering attending the funeral of former Buffalo volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died trying to protect his family from gunfire at a rally, according to a Facebook post from his family, The New York Post reported.
The grief of Mr. Comperatore's family is only overshadowed by the love they have for the man, husband, father, brother and friend he was. Rest in Peace Corey. pic.twitter.com/PZgPIAATXe
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) July 14, 2024
Trump noted that shootings at large events often lead to chaos and violent crowds, and thanked the 55,000 supporters who gathered there for keeping calm.
“A lot of places, especially at football games, you hear one gunshot and everybody runs. Here we heard multiple gunshots and nobody ran,” Trump told the outlet.
After the shooting, Trump “threw away” a policy speech he had prepared for the Republican National Convention, the Washington Examiner first reported. reportThe presumptive Republican nominee explained that he changed his planned remarks because he “want to unite the country.”
President Joe Biden called Trump on Saturday evening after the assassination attempt, saying the Republican candidate was “OK” and “very good.” Trump also claimed he'd “heard” Biden would order the Justice Department to drop the two charges against him, but there has been no public indication of that happening yet, according to a report from the New York Post.
First Lady Jill Biden also called Melania Trump, according to NBC News. report He said Sunday, citing a White House official.
The Republican National Convention begins on Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump left his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, as scheduled on Sunday afternoon and headed to Milwaukee.
