Donald Trump Details Assassination Attempt, For One Time Only, At Republican National Convention: 'I Had God On My Side'
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump detailed the recent attempt made on his life, for those on hand for the closing night of the Republican National Convention.
Trump's remarks on Thursday night came just five days after said assassination attempt at a Butler, Pa., campaign rally.
After being introduced by UFC president Dana White, Trump appeared in front of a Broadway-style sign of his last name, which then transitioned into a backdrop facsimile of the White House he once called home.
Trump teased a "message of confidence, strength and hope" and his plans for the "four greatest years in the history of our country," before thanking everyone for the "outpouring of love and support" in the wake of the July 13 assassination attempt.
"I will tell you exactly what happened" — but this time and one time only, he said — because the story of the shooting is "too painful to tell."
Trump recalled how he was "speaking powerfully, strongly" about immigration at the southern border, when in order to see a chart detailing the accomplishments of his administration, he turned his head to the right — yet stopped himself just as he "heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me.
"I said, 'Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet," he continued. "I immediately knew it was very serious," given that the hand he'd raised to his left ear was now "covered with blood."
Trump said that as other bullets flew, Secret Service agents "rushed to the stage... and pounced on me, so I would be protected.
"I felt very safe because I had God on my side," he added. "I stand before you [tonight] only by the grace of Almighty God."
Trump said the rally crowd was "confused" and "thought I was dead," so once the shooting stopped and the Secret Service lifted him up, "I wanted to do something to let them know I was OK." So, "I raised my right arm and started shouting, 'Fight! Fight! Fight!' Once my clenched first went up, high into the air, the crowd realized I was OK and roared with pride for our country like no crowd I have ever heard before."
Trump was lucky, but others were not.
On stage there at the RNC, he had displayed the uniform of Pennsylvania firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died during the shooting of bullets. "What a fine man he was," Trump said, before kissing the fallen firefighter's helmet. Trump also made mention of the two people injured during the melee.
Other notable speakers at the four-day event include Donald Trump. Jr. and Eric Trump, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, "Proud to Be an American" singer Lee Greenwood, UFC CEO Dana White, rapper/influence Amber Rose and many GOP politicians and officials including U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14).
On Monday, hours ahead of the start of the convention, Trump named Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate and potential vice president.
The RNC was held at the Fiserv Forum and Wisconsin Center District in Milwaukee, Wis., from July 15-18. The 2024 Democratic National Convention will follow next month at Chicago's United Center, from Aug. 19-22.