Former President Donald Trump said he “probably took a bullet to the head” in response to overheated rhetoric from Vice President Kamala and Democrats, referring to his near-assassination at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13.
“I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me,” the 45th president shot back when Harris charged that he would “weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies.”
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate on September 10, 2024. AP
Trump said he was shot in the head because of rhetoric from the Democrats. AFP via Getty Images“They talk about democracy — I’m a threat to democracy,” he added.
“They’re the threat to democracy, with their Russia, Russia, Russia investigation that went nowhere.”
Trump, 78, and Harris, 59, sparred at their first debate on ABC Tuesday night in Philadelphia, just 55 days ahead of the November election.
The former president was grazed in the ear at a campaign event at the Butler County Fair Grounds when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire from the rooftop of the nearby one-story, American Glass Research (AGR).
Crooks was immediately killed by Secret Service snipers and rushed off the stage by law enforcement with blood streaking down his face.
Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was in the crowd, was killed and two others were critically wounded by the shooter.
Trump claimed Kamala Harris would “weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies.” REUTERS
Trump was grazed in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month. AP
Former fire chief Corey Comperatore was the only fatality, while two others were wounded by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks. AP
Trump’s wife Melania wanted answers about the shooting that nearly killed her husband as she said in a clip, “The attempt to end my husband’s life was a horrible, distressing experience.” REUTERSSeveral questions remain about the shooting, including how Crooks was able to sneak past Secret Service and other law enforcement at the outdoor rally.
Crooks had been at the rally site for about 70 minutes on the morning of the assassination attempt, where he flew a drone and surveyed the area where Trump would be speaking, law enforcement officials said.
Federal investigators said last month that Crooks had considered taking a shot at both the Republican nominee and President Biden before settling on the Butler rally as a “target of opportunity.”
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Crooks espoused a “mixture of ideologies,” authorities said, however, he did not appear to have a “definitive” worldview and could not determine a motive for the shooting.
On Monday, Trump’s wife Melania demanded answers about the shooting as the near-killing of a presidential candidate seems to have fallen out of the news cycle.
“The attempt to end my husband’s life was a horrible, distressing experience,” Melania, 54, said in the clip.
“Now, the silence around it feels heavy.”
“I can’t help but wonder: Why didn’t law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech?”she questioned.
“There is definitely more to this story and we need to uncover the truth.”
