Melania Trump has broken her silence on the shooting of her husband Donald Trump by a would-be assassin and the horror she felt when she realized her life and that of her son Barron were on the brink of a “devastating change.”
The former first lady called the gunman a “monster” and described the moment she saw the bullet hit her husband’s ear at a rally in Pennsylvania in front of thousands of his adoring fans.
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to play down Donald’s passion – his laughter, his wit, his love of music and his inspiration,” Melania said in a statement on X on Sunday morning.
“When I watched that vicious bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized that my life and Barron’s life were on the brink of a devastating change. I am grateful to the brave Secret Service agents and law enforcement officers who risked their own lives to protect my husband.
‘This morning, rise above the hate, vitriol and simplistic ideas that fuel violence.
‘The winds of change have arrived. To those who cry in support, I thank you. I congratulate those who have stepped forward across the political divide: thank you for remembering that every politician is a man or woman with a loving family.’
Melania Trump breaks silence on shooting of husband Donald Trump
Trump raises his fist beneath the American flag, blood on his face, moments after the shooting
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman, was photographed for the first time Sunday morning, just hours after he was shot and killed by Secret Service personnel.
The registered Republican and 2022 high school graduate opened fire on the former president with an AR-style rifle from a rooftop 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.
Images of Crooks wearing glasses, braces and an American flag T-shirt in a yearbook portrait emerged Sunday morning, hours after he tried to eliminate the presumptive Republican nominee and killed a member of the crowd attending the rally.
Blood is seen coming out of Donald Trump’s ear, where he said he was shot
In scenes of unprecedented terror, Trump suddenly grabbed his ear and fell to the ground as gunshots rang out, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Moments later, he stood up, raised his fist and shouted “fight, fight, fight” as the Secret Service escorted him to a motorcade and then to the hospital.
Last night, a bomb squad and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at an address registered to Crooks as officers stood guard in front of yellow police caution tape.
One member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others were injured and are in critical condition. All three are men, according to authorities.
Trump was left bloodied and injured during the assassination attempt and was seen suddenly clutching his ear as loud bangs could be heard whizzing past before he crouched to the ground.
The Secret Service surrounded the 45th President of the United States as heart-wrenching screams could be heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then stood up with blood running down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted “fight!” while the audience chanted “USA!” as he was dragged off the stage and shoved into a vehicle.
Mr Rojek said they had not identified a motive for what he called “an attempted assassination of our former president”.
According to public court records in Pennsylvania, Crooks had no prior criminal history and officials said they are still working to identify a motive behind the shooting.
