Categories: Elections

Trump details harrowing assassination attempt and phone call with Biden in new interview

Following an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania campaign rally, Donald Trump revealed details of his conversation with President Biden in a recent interview. Trump shared that Biden remarked, “You’re lucky you turned to the right,” during a phone call after the incident.

The assassination attempt occurred on July 13 when Trump narrowly escaped a bullet by looking at a screen as the shooter fired at the rally in Butler, Pa. Trump described his exchange with Biden as ‘pleasant.’

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – JULY 20: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump walks offstage after speaking at a campaign rally at the Van Andel Arena on July 20, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Trump’s campaign event is the first joint event with his recent vice presidential pick Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and the first campaign rally since the attempted assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

According to New York Post, in the interview, recorded and aired over the weekend, Trump disclosed that he declined to be taken off stage on a stretcher despite being grazed by the bullet. He insisted on getting up and refused the stretcher offer, stating, “I’m not going on a stretcher.”

Initially, Secret Service agents mistook his injury for a more severe one, believing he was hit in the abdomen. Trump assured them it was his ear that was grazed, causing a disagreement as he refused to be carried off on a stretcher and insisted on standing up.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – JULY 20: Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald J. Trump holds his first public campaign rally with his running mate, Vice Presidential nominee U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) (not pictured), at the Van Andel Arena on July 20, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is also Trump’s first public rally since he was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13. Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Trump mentioned that his right ear is healing well and is in good condition now, though he acknowledged it was a serious injury requiring bandages.

During the interview, Trump also raised concerns about Biden’s health and suggested investigating if the White House has been concealing his physical and mental decline. He questioned the validity of the reports from Biden’s doctors, who gave him a clean bill of health.

Furthermore, Trump recalled meeting with Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after the assassination attempt and mentioned his concerns about security protocols not being followed. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that such incidents are not repeated in the future.

Additionally, GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance shared his experience during the rally shooting, highlighting the moment he realized the president had been targeted. Vance expressed relief that Trump was unharmed and commended the rally attendees for their composed reaction in the face of chaos.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.