In his first interview following the assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump expressed his astonishment at surviving, stating, “I should be dead. Many people are saying it’s by God I’m still here.”
During a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Trump narrowly escaped death when a gunman opened fire, killing one attendee and seriously injuring two others. The assailant, Thomas Crooks, 20, was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
Describing the incident, Trump recalled how moving his head at the right moment saved his life. “I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today,” he told the New York Post.
The bullet grazed Trump’s ear, tearing a small piece off. Iconic footage captured the former president clutching his ear and falling as chaos ensued. Moments later, he stood up, blood streaming down his face, and defiantly punched the air.
Trump praised the swift action of his Secret Service agents, who bundled him to safety. “They acted like linebackers, hitting me so hard my shoes fell off,” he said, showing a bruise from the incident.
The former president, bandaged and flying to the Republican convention in Milwaukee, reflected on the event, calling it a “miracle.” He emphasized his belief that divine intervention played a role in his survival.
Trump also revealed he scrapped his planned speech for the convention, opting instead for remarks aimed at uniting the country, though he expressed doubt about the possibility, given the current divisions.
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