Former President Donald Trump described the assassination attempt on his life in his own words at the Republican National Convention (RNC), saying it was the only time he would tell the story.
“This beautiful crowd didn’t wanna leave me. They’re incredible people. Bullets were flying over us yet I felt serene,” Trump said.
Saturday’s shooter, identified as Thoams Matthew Crooks, opened fire during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, hitting Trump in the ear. After being shot, Trump stood up and raised his fist in the air, blood streaming down his face. In what has become an iconic image, it sent Trump into the convention with a renewed energy in his campaign and Trump’s speech on Thursday night was met with thunderous applause.
At the beginning of Trump’s speech, he acknowledged the love and support he’s received after the shooting and said he would tell the story once and then never again. It would be too painful to keep reliving.
“I knew that it was very serious, that we were under attack,” Trump said. “Bullets were continuing to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage.”
Trump commended the bravery of the Secret Service agents, who “rushed to the stage” and “pounced” on top of him. He said he felt very safe because he had “God on my side.”
As people at the rally realized the shooting was taking place, they crouched down and screamed. But, there wasn’t widespread panic, which Trump commended during the rally. He said he believed that more people would have been injured if they stampeded.
Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are treating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism, although they believe that Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, acted alone. The shooting resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who shielded his family from the gunfire, and injuries to two other attendees. Trump sustained an energy to his ear. He sported a bandage at the RNC, which quickly became a fashion statement that his supporters also started wearing at the convention in a sign of support.
In a statement shortly after the shooting, Trump called it “incredible” that an assassination attempt on his life could happen in the United States. He added that he knew something was wrong when he heard a “whizzing sound” and felt the bullet piercing his ear.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump said. “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.”
During his speech at the RNC on Wednesday night, Donald Trump Jr., commended his father’s reaction after the shooting, saying that he “showed a spirit that could never be broken.”
The FBI continues to investigate the motives behind Crooks’ actions. The agency has not identified any ideological motivation or threatening social media posts linked to Crooks.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the seriousness of the attack, calling it “an attack on our democracy itself.” FBI Director Christopher Wray assured the public that the investigation would be thorough and that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring accountability and preventing future incidents.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.