Former US President Donald Trump recently recounted a harrowing assassination attempt in an interview with the New York Post, describing the experience as “very surreal.”
“I’m not supposed to be here; I’m supposed to be dead,” Trump shared aboard his plane en route to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to secure the party’s presidential candidacy.
Sporting a white bandage over his right ear, Trump recalled the Saturday incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his skin, causing chaos and heightening political tensions ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.
“It was a very surreal experience,” Trump remarked, emphasizing the miraculous nature of his survival as noted by hospital staff.
The shooting led to the deaths of the shooter and a bystander, with two others critically injured. Trump, visibly shaken, later addressed the incident on his Truth Social network, expressing shock and disbelief over the attack.
Despite the ordeal, Trump was seen walking unaided from his plane upon arrival in New Jersey, where he spent the night recovering.
The FBI has confirmed the incident as an assassination attempt and is investigating the circumstances. The shooter, identified as a registered Republican acting alone, prompted immediate responses from local law enforcement due to suspicious behavior prior to the shooting.
The global community has condemned the attack, with leaders from various countries including Britain, Israel, China, and Nigeria expressing outrage and concern over political violence in the United States.
US President Joe Biden condemned the shooting in a briefing from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, emphasizing the need to unite the country against such acts of violence.
Former President Barack Obama echoed Biden’s sentiments, stressing that political violence has no place in American democracy.
The assassination attempt has sparked widespread debate on the security of political figures and the escalating political tensions in the United States, underscoring the need for unity and vigilance moving forward.