Former President Donald Trump spoke at the Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, marking a significant public appearance following an assassination attempt on his life. The incident occurred on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a bullet that narrowly missed killing Trump but caused an injury to his ear. Trump has consistently maintained that the injury was due to a bullet, not shrapnel, a claim that has now gained the support of the FBI.
Initially, there was significant uncertainty and debate over the nature of Trump’s injury. Some speculated that shrapnel, rather than a bullet, had struck his ear, which led to bleeding and the need for a bandage. This ambiguity persisted for days following the attack, leaving room for various interpretations and discussions about the true cause of the injury.
Donald Trump
FBI Director Christopher Wray addressed the issue during a Congressional committee hearing, stating that while it couldn’t be ruled out that Trump was hit by a bullet, there was no conclusive evidence at that time. However, the FBI later issued a definitive statement confirming that a bullet had indeed caused the injury to Trump’s ear. This clarification came after thorough examination and analysis by the bureau.
The New York Times reported that the FBI was analyzing bullet fragments to ascertain whether Trump’s injury was caused by a whole bullet or fragments of one. This process involved scrutinizing the evidence to provide a clear answer. Following Speaker Mike Johnson’s inquiry, the FBI confirmed their findings, ending the speculation about the nature of the injury.
Ultimately, the FBI’s conclusive statement affirmed that Trump was struck by a bullet fired from Crooks’ rifle, either in whole or fragmented form. The New York Times further supported this conclusion with an analysis suggesting that the first of the eight bullets fired by Crooks grazed Trump’s ear. This definitive resolution by the FBI aligns with Trump’s initial claims and provides a clear understanding of the incident.
