Topline
Former President Donald Trump still intends to speak at the Republican National Convention later this week, but the focus of his speech will be dramatically different from what he initially planned, he said in an interview with the Washington Examiner on Sunday evening, after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania a day earlier.
Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa on Saturday, moments before being shot.
Key Facts
Trump told the Washington Examiner that his original speech would have focused on Biden’s policies and it “would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches.”
The former president said he plans to deliver a completely different speech now, saying “It is a chance to bring the country together.”
Trump also spoke with the New York Post aboard his plane while flying to Milwaukee for the convention and called the attack a “very surreal experience,” adding, “I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead.”
The tabloid reported a “loose, large white bandage” was wrapped around Trump’s right ear and claimed the doctor who attended to his injuries said “he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle.”
In a post on Truth Social earlier Sunday, Trump called for unity and said he looked forward to "speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin," where thousands of Republicans are planning to gather for their party's convention starting Monday to formally nominate Trump and his yet-to-be-announced running mate as the Republican presidential ticket.
Trump senior advisers sent a memo to staff shortly after the shooting indicating the convention will continue as planned with the exception of new security measures implemented for staff, Politico reported.
The post from Trump on Sunday morning was one of two he's made since authorities said Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire from outside Trump's Saturday campaign rally.
Trump said he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear" and thanked the "rapid response" of the Secret Service and local law enforcement.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Crucial Quote
Addressing the photos of him raising his fist while being led off stage by Secret Service, Trump told the New York Post: “A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen. They’re right and I didn’t die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.”
News Peg
Trump told the Examiner he believes the assassination attempt has completely changed the nature of the election and claimed he has received calls from people across the political spectrum. The former president also said he was lucky to survive the shooting as he turned away from the crowd at just the right moment to glance at a screen displaying data he was using in his speech. Trump told the interviewer: “I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?” Trump also said he raised his fist air while being led off stage because he wanted to show people he was okay, “And that America goes on, we go forward, that we are strong.”
Key Background
Gunshots interrupted Trump's Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania shortly after it began. In video from the event, several popping sounds can be heard before Trump is seen diving below the podium on stage and Secret Service agents rush to cover him. Trump then rose surrounded by agents with the right side of his face covered in blood. He pumped his fist into the air several times while being escorted off stage. A Secret Service spokesperson tweeted shortly after that Trump was safe and being medically evaluated, adding later that one person was killed and two more were hurt. The shooter, who authorities later identified as Crooks, was killed by the Secret Service, the Associated Press reported, and an AR-style rifle was recovered at the scene. The shooter was on a building outside the rally "several hundred yards away," local District Attorney Richard Goldinger told CNN. President Joe Biden said in a statement he is "grateful" to hear Trump was safe and said there was "no place for this kind of violence in America.” Former president Barack Obama said "we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics." Gabby Giffords, a Democratic former U.S. Representative who almost died after an attempted assassination in 2012, said "political violence is un-American and is never acceptable."
What To Watch For
Trump is expected to formally accept the Republican nomination Thursday night and his campaign on Saturday announced a number of other speakers including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and vice presidential contenders Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Surprising Fact
Several Trump supporters seemed to blame the Biden campaign for the shooting. Vance tweeted "the "central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination." Chris LaCivita, a Trump campaign adviser, posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, “well of course they tried too keep him off the ballot, they tried to put him in jail and now you see this …,” the Associated Press reported. The post has since been deleted. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) tweeted "Joe Biden sent the orders."
Further Reading
Fake Videos Purporting To Be Dead Trump Shooter Are Spreading On Social Media (Forbes)
Here’s What We Know About The Suspected Trump Rally Shooter (Forbes)
Trump staff memo says convention will go on as planned, new security will be implemented for staff (Politico)
Trump rally shooting live updates: FBI identifies suspect in apparent assassination attempt (Associated Press)
Trump safe, two dead after assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally (CNN)