Donald Trump gave his first in-depth interview after surviving an assassination attempt at his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Trump revealed how turning his head to look at a video of him screaming may have saved his life at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally.
On Sunday he said: “I rarely look away from the crowd. If I hadn’t done that at that moment, well, we wouldn’t be talking today, would we?”
Trump turned his head at the crucial moment and ended up with a bloody ear. His Secret Service team rushed him off the stage, but not before saluting his supporters with a clenched fist.
He added that “reality is just setting in” regarding the shooting and the chaotic aftermath.
Donald Trump is speaking publicly for the first time since a would-be assassin fired an AR-15 rifle at his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Trump, pictured Sunday arriving at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, is set 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 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.
The former president also referred to the now-iconic moment when he raised his fist and said “fight” before the stunned audience.
He said he wanted his fans to know he was OK “and that America is moving forward, that we’re moving forward, that we’re strong.”
“The energy that was coming from the people at that moment, they just stood there; it’s hard to describe what I felt, but I knew the world was watching. I knew history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know that we were OK,” Trump added.
She spoke to journalist Salena Zito, who was photographed at the demonstration after the shooting, hiding behind a loudspeaker.
Zito said Trump reached out to her on CNN on Sunday, where they began an interview about the shooting, his reaction and his plans for his speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention.
“The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be spectacular,” he said. Washington Examiner.
‘If this had not happened, this would have been one of the most incredible speeches directed primarily at President Joe Biden’s policies.
Trump spoke to journalist Salena Zito, who was photographed at the rally after the shooting, hiding behind a speaker.
“Honestly, it will be a totally different speech now,” he added.
Trump, who has often been a divisive figure in American politics, is now planning a speech on Thursday that could unite the nation.
“It’s an opportunity to unite the country. I was given that opportunity. It’s an opportunity to unite the whole country, even the whole world. The speech will be very different, very different than it would have been two days ago,” he said.
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.
Amid the ensuing chaos, Secret Service agents could be heard shouting “the shooter is down” and the gunman 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 were injured and are in critical condition. All three are men, according to law enforcement.
Trump was taken to the hospital for treatment before being released later.
Spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump was “doing well” and being checked out at a local medical facility, while the former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, said his father “is in very good spirits.”
Trump flew back to New Jersey before spending the night at his golf resort in Bedminster.
In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies “for their swift response.”
“I knew immediately something was wrong because I heard a whistling sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet go through my skin,” she said on social media.
‘There was a lot of bleeding and then I realized what was happening.
“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies for their quick response,” Trump added.
‘Most importantly, I would like to express my condolences to the family of the person who died in the demonstration, and also to the family of another person who was seriously injured.
Donald Trump appeared to be shot in the ear when the former president was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania
Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate he was OK in an image that has since gone viral around the world.
“It is incredible that such an act could occur in our country.
‘GOD BLESS AMERICA!’
President Biden said in a statement that Americans “must come together as one nation” in response to the horrific scenes.