Former US President Donald Trump has said he is “supposed to be dead” after an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night.
During one of his first interviews since the incident, Mr. Trump expressed his gratitude for what he described as a miraculous escape. “I felt that I had been saved by luck or by God,” he told conservative media.
Recalling the harrowing moment, Trump explained, “The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn [my head] but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount.” The bullet that grazed his ear could have easily been fatal. “I’m supposed to be dead, I’m not supposed to be here,” he reiterated.
The attack left one spectator dead and two others seriously injured. The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, also died in the incident. Mr. Trump described the scene vividly, recounting the moment he realized he had been shot. “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 looking. I knew that history would judge this, and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he told the Washington Examiner.
As Mr. Trump prepared to head to the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is expected that he will be confirmed as the party’s candidate for president, he reflected on the impact of the assassination attempt. He emphasised that his planned speech, which was initially intended to criticise President Joe Biden’s policies, would now take a different tone.
He said, “Had (Saturday’s attack) not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches. Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now. It is a chance to bring the country together.”
Despite the traumatic event, Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he would not delay his trip to Wisconsin, stating, “I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling.” He acknowledged the profound effect the attempt on his life had on him but remained resolute in his commitment to his campaign schedule.
