Former President Donald Trump was indeed struck by an assassin’s bullet or its fragment during a campaign rally this month, according to a statement from the FBI on Friday. This confirmation addresses the ambiguity surrounding the nature of Trump’s injury at the Pennsylvania event.
Nature of the attack
“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the FBI detailed in their statement.
On July 13, Trump’s right ear was seen covered in blood following the incident at the rally. The FBI classified the incident—where eight bullets were fired from outside the event’s security perimeter—as an assassination attempt.
Earlier, FBI Director Christopher Wray had expressed uncertainty about the exact nature of the projectile, questioning whether it was “a bullet or shrapnel” that hit Trump’s ear. However, the recent FBI statement clarified these doubts.
Trump’s response
Trump, who has long accused the FBI of being part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him, reacted to the FBI’s latest findings on his Truth Social platform: “I assume that’s the best apology that we’ll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!”
Trump also shared a letter from his former White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, now a Republican congressman, asserting that the injury was unquestionably caused by a bullet. “There is absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet,” Jackson wrote.
Casualties and fallout
The attack left two rally attendees seriously wounded and resulted in the death of a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter. The gunman was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Since the incident, Trump has used the attack as a significant talking point in his campaign. At a Michigan rally, he told supporters, “I took a bullet for democracy.” During the Republican National Convention, Trump, declared the party’s presidential nominee, attributed his survival to divine protection, saying he had “God on my side.”
In a show of solidarity, many Trump supporters at his rallies have started wearing bandages on their right ears, mimicking the former president’s injury.
Trump also criticized Wray’s initial comments, accusing him of political bias. “It was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel,” Trump stated.
A New York Times investigation published Friday supports the FBI’s findings, indicating that a detailed analysis of the event “strongly suggests Mr. Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman.”
Medical reports
Despite the severity of the incident, Trump’s campaign has not released any official medical reports or statements from his current physician; instead, it relies on comments from Jackson, a close political ally.
This latest development underscores the gravity of the attack and its potential impact on Trump’s ongoing campaign narrative and the broader political discourse.