Donald Trump has spoken out about miraculously surviving as attempt on his life.
On Saturday (July 13), the 78-year-old former POTUS took to the stage as a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Roughly 10 minutes into his address, shots rang out, and the former president could be seen clutching at the right side of his head, before being bundled to the ground by his security detail.
Trump had been targeted by a 20-year-old shooter, who the FBI have since identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania. Crooks had taken aim from a rooftop approximately 130 meters away.
After authorities shot Crooks dead, an AR-style rifle was recovered at the scene. Crooks was not on the FBI’s radar and the motive for his attack is not clear, per the Wall Street Journal.
Tragically, one male rally-goer was killed as a result of the shooting, with a further two men critically injured amid the chaos.
Trump was struck by a bullet in the right ear, narrowly avoiding death. He was treated for his injuries before returning to his New Jersey home.
Now, Trump has spoken to the New York Post about his “very surreal experience” and surviving the attack.
Recalling his medical treatment following the shooting, he told The Post: “The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle.”
“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” he added. “I’m supposed to be dead.”
Describing his security agents as “linebackers”, Trump added that his shoes were knocked off as they bundled him to the ground.
In videos from the aftermath of the attack, Trump could be heard saying: “Wait, I want to get my shoes.”
“Let me get my shoes on, let me get my shoes on,” he said, per the New York Times.
He later clarified his comments to The Post, saying: “The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight.”
Commending the work of the Secret Service agents present at the scene, Trump shared details into Crooks’ death, saying: “They took him out with one shot right between the eyes.”
“They did a fantastic job,” Trump continued. “It’s surreal for all of us.”
The former president also joked about having an “iconic” photo of himself without having to die.
“A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen,” Trump told The Post. “They’re right and I didn’t die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.”
The image in question (seen above), shows Trump defiantly raising a fist to his supporters as agents attempted to remove him from the stage. Footage from the moment shows Trump shouting the word “Fight!”
“I just wanted to keep speaking, but I just got shot,” he added.
On Sunday, Trump landed in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. As he exited the steps of his jet, he once again raised his fist while wearing a bandage covering his ear.
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