Trump says 'not supposed to be here' after assassination bid
4 Min Read
US presidential candidate Donald Trump gets into the details of his assassination at the Republican National Committee days after it happened.
-
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, walking on stage with former first lady Melania Trump at the end of the Republican National Convention (RNC), July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee (AP)
US Presidential candidate Donald Trump discussed at the Republican National Committee (RNC) in Milwaukee how he narrowly avoided the attempt made on his life at a Pennsylvania rally last weekend, attributing his narrow survival to "the grace of almighty God."
"I'm not supposed to be here tonight," Trump began. The former president's address before the RNC was his first time publicly addressing the incident, which saw a 20-year-old gunman open fire at his rally, shooting him in the ear, killing one person, and injuring two others.
Trump described the event as he took the stage on Saturday, addressing a cheering crowd about his administration's immigration policies and southern border control.
As he turned to view a screen displaying impressive statistics on border crossings during his term, he suddenly heard a "loud whizzing sound" and felt a sharp pain in his right ear, he explained.
"I said to myself, 'Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,'" Trump recounted. He recalled his hand coming away from his ear covered in blood, realizing immediately that he had come under attack.
Secret Service agents sprang into action, shielding Trump as bullets flew. "The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin's bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight. We would not be together," he said.
Trump praises supporters
Trump lauded his supporters at the rally, saying they did not panic and instead immediately took to looking for the shooter. "They knew I was in trouble. They didn't want to leave me. And you can see that love written all over their faces. Incredible people," he said.
Trump, surrounded by his security guards, then raised his right arm and shouted, "Fight, fight, fight!"
Despite numerous requests to recount the incident, Trump insisted this would be the only time he would share the details.
"So many people have asked me, 'What happened? Tell us what happened, please,'" he said. "But you'll never hear it from me a second time, because it's actually too painful to tell," he went on to claim.
Ahead of the RNC, Trump gave an interview for The New York Post in which he described the "very surreal experience" that nearly took his life. Trump shared that the hospital doctor was astonished by the incident, calling it a "miracle". He was wearing a large white bandage over his right ear, and his staff requested that no photos be taken.
“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” Trump told The Post. “I’m supposed to be dead.”
Trump claims near-death experience has altered his perspective
Trump mentioned that his near-death experience has altered his perspective on the speech he will give on Thursday to accept his party's nomination for the third consecutive time.
“I had all prepared an extremely tough speech, really good, all about the corrupt, horrible administration,” he stressed, then gushed, “But I threw it away.”
The former US president went on to say that a new speech was in the works, because “I want to try to unite our country.”
Trump added, “But I don’t know if that’s possible. People are very divided.”
"Some people want open borders, some don’t. Some want men to be able to play on women’s sport teams, and others don’t,” he detailed.
Trump remains convinced that success will unite the country, although he did not specify what that success would look like.
The former US president expressed gratitude for the call from President Biden, describing it as "fine" and noting that Biden was "very nice".
He hinted, without providing details, that the campaign between him and Biden could become more civil going forward.
Trump also mentioned hearing that Biden might order the Department of Justice to drop its two prosecutions against him, though there is no public indication of this so far.
