Former US President Donald Trump has revealed that he feels fortunate to be alive following Saturday night’s assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
In one of his first interviews since the incident, Mr. Trump told conservative US media that he believed luck or divine intervention had saved him. Reflecting on the moment, he described how turning his head at precisely the right time likely spared him from a potentially fatal bullet that grazed his ear.
“I’m supposed to be dead, I’m not supposed to be here,” he remarked.
Tragically, a spectator lost their life in the attack, and two others sustained serious injuries. The gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, also died during the altercation.
Recalling the harrowing events, Mr. Trump recounted the intense moment when he realized he had been shot while addressing the crowd.
“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was watching,” he shared with the Washington Examiner.
Preparing to attend the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is expected to secure the party’s presidential candidacy, Mr. Trump acknowledged that the incident had altered his plans. His speech, originally focused on criticizing President Joe Biden’s policies, will now emphasize national unity.
“Saturday’s attack has changed everything. It’s a chance to bring the country together,” he emphasized.
Earlier, Mr. Trump had mentioned on his social media platform Truth Social that he initially considered delaying his trip to Wisconsin due to the attack. However, he ultimately decided to stick to his schedule, asserting, “I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to dictate changes in my schedule.”
Mr. Trump admitted that the assassination attempt had deeply affected him. Authorities are continuing to investigate Crooks’ motives, confirming that he acted alone but examining whether he had accomplices.
The victim of the attack, identified as Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer fire chief, died while shielding his family.
In response to the incident, President Biden called for a reduction in the political temperature in a televised address. He urged Americans to resolve their differences through democratic means rather than violence.
“We resolve our differences at the ballot box. Not with bullets,” Mr. Biden emphasized.
