Donald Trump appeared without a bandage on his ear for the first time since he was shot in an assassination attempt, as his doctor issued an update on his recovery and responded to concerns that he had been hit by a bullet.
Shocking new images show the 45th president’s right ear appears to have recovered remarkably quickly in less than two weeks since a gunman opened fire on him.
Would-be assassin Thomas Crooks, 20, fired eight shots from an AR-15 at the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, including one that pierced the president’s ear.
Blood covered his face as he was frantically led offstage by the Secret Service in what was a massive security failure by the agency meant to protect him.
The snaps were taken as the former president welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida for a meeting.
The pair discussed the war in Gaza, and less than 24 hours later, Netanyahu held talks with Kamala Harris at the White House and expressed “dismay” at her comments about a ceasefire deal.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. It is the first time Trump’s damaged ear has been seen publicly.
During the meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu and Trump discussed the former president’s Middle East peace deal, the Abraham Accords, Iran’s nuclear program and combating anti-Semitism in the United States.
The ear revelation comes on the same day that Trump’s physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson, gave a critical update on the president’s recovery.
Dr. Ronny Jackson, who is also a Republican congressman from Texas, released a letter on Friday saying there was “absolutely no evidence” that he had been hit by “anything other than a bullet.”
“I want to assure the American people and the rest of the world that President Trump is doing very well,” the former chief White House physician added.
Jackson’s assurance that the 45th president was hit by a bullet and not glass or shrapnel is a direct rebuke to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s suggestion earlier this week that the agency is still determining what caused Trump’s right ear to bleed.
Wray sparked a firestorm Wednesday when he testified before lawmakers on Capitol Hill that there was still “some doubt” about whether the former president was hit by a bullet or shrapnel.
The FBI wants to question Donald Trump about his near-death experience when he survived an assassination attempt earlier this month.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for Trump, who was shot in the ear at a rally less than two weeks ago.
The official has yet to receive a statement from the former president’s victim as he gathers evidence to investigate the horrific event, an official said in a later statement seeking to clarify Wray’s comment.
Jackson, who has been monitoring Trump’s condition, added: ‘I have continued to monitor his health and well-being, along with his primary care physician, since the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13.
‘The would-be assassin fired several shots from a relatively short distance using a high-powered rifle, with one bullet hitting the former president, and now Republican presidential candidate, in his right ear.’
And Trump, whose ear was photographed for the first time without a bandage on Friday, has flatly refuted the FBI’s questioning of his injury, saying he was hit by “a bullet that hit me in the ear and hit me hard.”
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The meeting between the leaders took place at Trump’s home in Florida.
The pair discussed the war in Gaza less than 24 hours after Netanyahu held talks with Kamala Harris at the White House and expressed “dismay” at her comments on a ceasefire deal.
A former White House doctor has said Donald Trump is recovering “rapidly” from his assassination attempt and responded to an FBI inquiry asking whether he was hit by a bullet or shrapnel.
Trump posted on his Truth Social website: “There was no glass or shrapnel. The hospital called it a ‘gunshot wound to the ear,’ and that’s what it was. No wonder the once-famous FBI has lost America’s trust!”
The former president’s campaign also criticized the idea that Trump was hit by shrapnel rather than a bullet.
“Anyone who believes this conspiracy bullshit is either mentally retarded or deliberately spreading falsehoods for political reasons,” said Trump campaign adviser Steven Cheung. CNN.
During Wednesday’s hearing with Wray, the director responded to questions about the “assassin’s bullet” by saying, “My understanding is that it was that or some shrapnel that, you know, grazed his ear.”
Wray also testified that whatever hit Trump came very close to killing the 45th president.
Days after the shooting, Trump walked out in front of the crowd attending the Republican National Convention wearing a large white bandage on his injured ear.
Trump accepts presidential nomination at Fiserv Forum during Republican National Convention
A large white bandage covered the former president’s right ear throughout the Republican National Convention.
A combination image shows Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump with a bandaged ear after being wounded in an assassination attempt, and supporters and attendees with bandages over their ears in tribute to Trump during the Republican National Convention.
The pillow-like bandage soon became all the rage among convention attendees.
After the first day, many wore their own versions of the presidential attire.
Trump was shot in the ear just 13 days ago.