Trump gives first interview since attempted assassination as he opens up on the decision that saved his life, why he raised his fist and yelled ‘fight’ and how ‘reality is just setting in’
Donald Trump has given his first in-depth interview since surviving an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
Trump revealed that he saved his life at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by turning his head away from the crowd and watching a video of himself screaming.
He said on Sunday: ‘I rarely look away from the crowd. If I hadn’t done that at that moment, well, we wouldn’t have been talking today, would we?’
Trump turned his head at the crucial moment and ended up with a bloody ear. He was dragged off the stage by his Secret Service team, but not before giving his supporters a clenched fist salute.
He added that the reality of the shooting and its chaotic aftermath was “just sinking in.”
Donald Trump speaks publicly for the first time after a potential assassin fired an AR-15 rifle at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday
Trump, pictured here arriving at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Sunday, plans to rewrite his speech
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old assassin who shot Donald Trump, opened fire on the former president with an AR-style rifle from a rooftop 400 feet from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, at 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
The former president also delivered a speech during the now-iconic moment when he raised his fist in the air and shouted “fight” at the stunned audience.
He said he wanted his fans to know that he was okay “and that America is moving forward, we are moving forward and we are strong.”
“The energy that came from the people there at that moment, just standing there; it’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was watching. I knew history would judge this, and I knew I had to let them know we were OK,” Trump added.
He spoke to journalist Salena Zito, who was photographed after the shooting, hiding behind a loudspeaker.
Zito said Trump contacted her on CNN on Sunday, where they began an interview about the shooting, his response and his plans for his speech at the RNC on Thursday.
“The speech I was supposed to give on Thursday was going to be a cracker,” he told the Washington Examiner.
“If this hadn’t happened, this would have been one of the most incredible speeches, especially focused on President Joe Biden’s policies.
Trump spoke with journalist Salena Zito, who was photographed at the rally after the shooting, hiding behind a loudspeaker
“To be honest, it’s going to be a very different speech now,” he added.
Trump, a frequent divisive figure in American politics, is now planning a speech on Thursday that could unite the country.
“It’s a chance to bring the country together. I’ve been given that chance. This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be very different, very different from two days ago,” he said.
One member of the crowd was killed in the fatal shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are men, law enforcement officials said.
Trump was bloodied and injured during the assassination attempt. He was seen suddenly grabbing his ear as loud bangs rang out and passed by, then diving to the ground.
The Secret Service gathered around the 45th President of the United States as piercing screams could be heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then stood up, blood streaming down his cheek, raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted “fight” as the crowd chanted “USA” as he was dragged off the stage and forced into a vehicle.
In the ensuing chaos, Secret Service agents could be heard shouting, “The shooter is down.” The shooter was later confirmed dead.
Trump is also reconsidering his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week
One member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are men, according to law enforcement officials
Trump was taken to hospital for treatment but was later released.
Spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump was “doing fine” and was being evaluated at a local medical center, while the former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said his father was “in excellent spirits.”
Trump flew back to New Jersey, where he spent the night at his golf resort in Bedminster.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement officials “for their quick response.”
“I knew something was wrong straight away. I heard a whooshing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet rip through my skin,” he said on social media.
‘There was a lot of blood loss, so that’s when I realised what was going on.
“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement for their quick response,” Trump added.
‘Most importantly, I would like to express my condolences to the family of the person who died at the demonstration, and also to the family of another person who was seriously injured.
Donald Trump appeared to be shot in the ear when shots were fired at the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania
Trump is surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting, raising his fist to indicate he was OK in an image that has since gone viral
‘It’s unbelievable that something like this can happen in our country.
‘GOD BLESS AMERICA!’
President Biden said in a statement that Americans must “unite as one nation” in response to the horrific scenes.