As former President Donald Trump flew to Milwaukee on Sunday, he couldn’t help but relive the split second before a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a rally in Pennsylvania the night before. Trump recalled turning his head to look at a large screen displaying statistics about immigration, which just happened to be at the exact angle to allow the bullet to graze his ear but not enter his skull.
“It’s a miracle,” Trump said, still processing the surreal experience. “I’m really not supposed to be here.” Trump’s Secret Service agents rushed to shield him from further harm, and the would-be assassin was taken into custody. Trump suffered a bloody wound to his ear but no other injuries.
The close call has left Trump reevaluating his campaign and message. He had planned to deliver a “brutal” speech at the Republican National Convention, but instead, he is opting for a more unifying approach. Trump believes that the assassination attempt has given him a unique opportunity to redefine his message and appeal to a broader audience.
Some of Trump’s allies have suggested that he use the attack as a chance to promote unity, but the former president is skeptical. “There are many good people on the other side, but there are also people who are very divided,” Trump said. “The question is can those two sides get together?”
Despite the challenges, Trump remains hopeful that the assassination attempt will have a lasting impact on the presidential race. He acknowledged that the chances of fundamental political change are low, but he believes that the incident will remind voters of the importance of unity and common purpose.
As Trump reflected on his near-death experience, he couldn’t help but think about the what-ifs. “I had to be at the exact right angle,” he said. “Because the thing was an eighth of an inch away. That I would turn exactly at that second, where he wouldn’t stop the shot is pretty amazing.”
