At approximately 6:11 PM, Eastern Standard Time, former President Donald J. Trump and Republican nominee for 47th President of the United States was shockingly and suddenly shot at a rally near 506 Evans City Road, Meridian, Butler County, Pennsylvania. This is a shot heard around the world, as the attempted assassination of a President is an event that can never be anticipated.
According to Donald Trump’s campaign team, the former President is “fine” after the failed attempt on his life. In videos of Donald Trump’s rally, the former President is seen talking to his supporters, directing their attention to his right at a chart on a screen. Shortly thereafter, three shots ring out as Trump is seen holding the right side of his face and then ducking behind his lectern.
Secret Service members are heard shouting “Get down!” as they rush to cover the former President. Simultaneously, seven more shots continue to ring out as confused and scared attendees are heard screaming. One distinct woman’s blood-curdling scream was heard as one final counter-shot was fired. Service agents near the microphone are heard to have said “Shooter is down.” As the service agents slowly and cautiously raise Trump to his feet in a tight bear-hugging fashion. Trump tells them to hold on so he can “grab his shoes,” which may be a code term.
Whether you like the former President or not, it is undeniable that Trump is a patriotic, brave, and strong fighter. Despite having just been shot in the ear, the former President stands up to reassure the crowd that he is alright and that he will not allow such heinous acts to impede his plan. Trump is seen demanding his agents to pause so he can triumphantly raise his fist to the crowd and exclaim “Fight, fight, fight!” and “USA!” As he does so he is seen to have blood covering his right ear and blood across his cheek.
Trump was then escorted by his secret service agents to his motorcade, still waving his fist triumphantly, and rushed to a local hospital, where, according to Donald Trump Jr. his father is, “in great spirits,” and that “he will never stop fighting to save America.”
The fact Trump is alive is nothing short of a miracle. The shooter narrowly missed Trump’s head, hitting the upper right part of his ear. When reviewing slowed-down footage, you can see how milliseconds before the first shot, Trump turned his head to his right, directing the audience to his Jumbotron, a demonstrative, with a chart containing data regarding illegal immigration that was out of date. Trump only began to go off the teleprompter and direct his audience’s attention to the Jumbotron a mere minute before this assassination attempt. Trump going off the teleprompter and gesturing to his right at the Jumbotron is precisely what saved his life.
If the Jumbotron had not been in place, which has not been in many rallies, Trump’s head could have been straight and forward addressing his audience. Therefore the bullet would have perforated Donald Trump’s head, which likely would have resulted in the instant death of the former President as it would strike the brain.
To further emphasize this, Michael Knowles of the Daily Wire stated this when referring to the footage of the attempted Trump assassination, “When we take a look at what happened at that moment, we see just before the first shot rang out Trump turned his head to the right about 15 or 20 degrees. Barely noticeable in real-time, a little twitch in his oration, a barely perceptible turn that saved his life. The shooter firing from 150 yards away was an excellent shot… [if] Trump keeps his head where it was when the shooter took aim, [and] started pulling that trigger; the bullet enters the back of his skull and Trump dies on stage. Trump turns his head just before the shots ring out, just slightly; the bullet goes through his ear. How do you explain that?” Trump’s ability to breathe the same air as us today is a complete miracle. If that jumbotron was not there, if Trump had not gone off the teleprompter, and if Trump had not made the subconscious decision to ever so slightly turn his head… he would not be alive today.
Tragically, one attendee is confirmed to have been killed by a rogue bullet shot at Trump. A post on social media from an attendee of the rally shows the blood-covered bleachers that resulted from the man next to him being shot fatally in the head.
The attendee killed was Corey Comperatore, 50, a Pennsylvania native, husband, and father of two daughters, all of whom were attending the rally. Comperatore was the former fire chief of Buffalo Township, PA. He was fatally shot and killed because he used his body as a shield to protect his family from the gunfire. Pennsylvania Governor Joshua Shapiro stated that Comperatore would attend church every Sunday, and this Sunday [July 14, 2024] would be the first day his bench seat would remain empty. “Corey died a hero,” Governor Shapiro stated.
Furthermore, at least two others, later identified as David Dutch, 57, and James Compenhaver, 74, were critically injured, but are now both “in stable condition,” (NBC News). A Facebook post from Corey’s sister stated, “The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most. He was a hero who shielded his daughters. His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable. My baby brother just turned 50 and had so much life left to experience. Hatred has no limits and love has no bounds. Pray for my sister-in-law, nieces, my mother, sister, me, and his nieces and nephews as this feels like a terrible nightmare but we know it is our painful reality.”
Thankfully, the gunman who attempted to murder President Trump is confirmed to be dead according to multiple interviews with law enforcement agents, the FBI, and Butler County District Attorney, Richard Goldinger, as he stated in a phone call interview on the day of the assassination attempt. According to CBS News, “The gunman was on an elevated platform on a shed outside the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service, two law enforcement sources [stated].”
As of July 14, 2024, the gunman was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks (FBI). He was a 2022 high school graduate of Bethel Park High School (dailybeast.com), according to witnesses, he could be seen “bear crawling across the roof” with a rifle, later to be confirmed as an AR-15 owned legally by Crooks’ father. Crooks would open fire at former President Trump from a distance of approximately 400 feet.
Crooks was neutralized by Secret Service counter snipers following the shots taken at former President Trump. A few former classmates of Crooks were interviewed by NBC News. One former classmate spoke out, saying, “I want to say he was more of a loner [in school] because—he was quiet, but like he was just bullied—he was just bullied so much—so much.”
As of July 14, 2024, the FBI is conducting an ongoing investigation as to what the motive of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, would be. It is also unknown whether or not this was a plot or Crooks was acting alone. The FBI believes it was not a large plot, but the facts of this incident are still being investigated.
Donald Trump has since posted the following in the evening hours of July 13, 2024, “I want to thank the United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response to the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead [This was posted before new information which has since been publicized]. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through my skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Many world leaders and notable figures have since responded to the assassination attempt. Including Multi-Billionaire Elon Musk declaring his official endorsement of Donald Trump for the presidency. Furthermore, the former 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama posted his response prior to the current President of the United States, stating, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened [outdated], we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”
However, the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, had made a brief remark hours following the failed assassination attempt. At 8:13 PM EST, the President spoke. The speech can be accessed on the White House’s official website. The President stated that it is “sick” that something like this could occur in the United States. Strangely, the President would not acknowledge the fact that this was an assassination attempt, as a member of the press inquired, “Mr. President, do you think this was an assassination attempt?” Biden responded, “I don’t know enough to — I — I have — I have a — I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts. So, I want to make sure we have all the facts before I make some comment.”
The president has since made another address to the nation regarding the failed assassination attempt, sharing his deepest condolences with the Comperatore family and the families of those who were injured. It should also be noted that Biden’s second address was also fairly brief, it was indicated that there would be more speeches regarding the failed assassination attempt of Trump coming soon.
Donald Trump has since stated that the failed assassination attempt will not impede his current plans of attending the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Furthermore, employees at Trump’s Bedminster Golf Course in New Jersey have stated that “Trump played [golf] today [July 14, 2024], just about 16 hours after getting nearly assassinated. He was in high spirits, which was great.” This is a testament to how Donald Trump will not allow domestic terrorism to halt or impact his daily life.
This is not something that we have not seen before though, as the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest on October 14, 1912, right before making a speech for an unprecedented third term. Despite the gunshot wound sustained, knowing that he was not suffering internal bleeding, Theodore Roosevelt would go on to make his speech while bleeding before he allowed his officials to take him to the hospital.
Much like Roosevelt, Trump sustained an injury, narrowly avoiding death, and continued to go on with his day-to-day life as
though his life could not have just been ended.
Only four presidents in American history have been assassinated, including Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. A further two presidents have been injured in assassination attempts, including the aforementioned Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Now, Donald Trump will go down in history as the third President to survive an assassination attempt leaving him injured.
In conclusion, July 13, 2024, is a date that will go down in American history. The failed assassination attempt reveals to the world the sheer anger and hatred building up in our nation, stemming from the toxic politics of today’s United States. The kind and wise words of Corey Comperatore’s sister must be reemphasized in the history books, as she said, “The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most.” An innocent life was stolen because of the senseless hatred building up in our nation.
Unity is needed now more than ever before, as the murder of innocent people is never the answer to controversy. Although President Trump is thankfully safe, the Comperatore family has lost a man so important to them. The life of one innocent man will never outweigh the life of another. Political violence needs to end, for if we want the historic prosperity of our nation to continue we must be able to speak with one another openly with no fear of backlash.
Our thoughts and prayers for the families of Corey Comperatore, Donald Trump, David Dutch, James Compenhaver, and the attendees who were present at this traumatic event. May God Bless You and God Bless America.
Photo courtesy of FOX News, Wikipedia, The Daily Wire, The New York Times, CBS, NBC, History on the Net, Google Earth, Right Side Broadcasting Network, and Facebook.
