Trump Speaks Out After Narrowly Surviving Assassination Attempt

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

Former Donald Trump told reporters on his plane to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention that he “was supposed to be dead” after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt on Saturday during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Shots rang out and Trump’s right ear was grazed by a bullet shortly after he stepped on stage to speak to his supporters. He told the New York Post and Washington Examiner in an interview Sunday that if he hadn’t tilted his head slightly to read a chart on illegal immigrants, he would’ve been killed. In that moment, the bullet tore off a piece of his ear and blood splattered on his forehead and cheek.

“By luck or by God, many people are saying it’s by God I’m still here,” Trump said while addressing the assassination attempt.

“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead.”

Trump said that as Secret Service agents led him off stage, he still wanted to continue speaking to his supporters, but the agents told him it wasn’t safe and they had to get him to a hospital.

The suspected shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by Secret Service agents shortly after firing the shots. Crooks had also fatally shot a bystander, 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore, and wounded two other attendees before being taken out.

Trump commended the Secret Service agents for gunning down the shooter, who was perched on a roof about 130 yards from the stage.

“They took him out with one shot right between the eyes,” the former president said as he pointed to the bridge of his nose.

“They did a fantastic job,” he added. “It’s surreal for all of us.”