Trump credits chart for saving his life, doctor says he came ‘quarter of an inch’ from dying
15-07-2024 12:36 PM
Ammon News - Former President Donald Trump credits an immigration chart for saving his life Saturday — as he turned to look at border patrol statistics during his rally speech and moved his head “a quarter of an inch” to avoid being shot in the head by a nearby gunman.
The former president was in the middle of giving his rally remarks in Butler, Pa., when he suddenly turned his head to the right to view the chart that was on screen next to the stage.
In that moment, a gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, aimed for Trump.
Trump said he looked at the chart “early” and was then shot in the ear, instead of the head, Fox News’ Brett Baier said of their phone interview Sunday.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), who was Trump’s White House physician, also described speaking to Trump about the life-saving chart in a conversation with the New York Times.
“He goes, ‘The border patrol saved my life,’” Jackson told the outlet on Sunday. “‘I was going over that border patrol chart.’ He said, ‘If I hadn’t pointed at that chart and turned my head to look at it, that bullet would have hit me right in the head.’”
The 45th president described the events happening “so quickly” and then dropping down and being protected by Secret Service agents, Baier said, adding that Trump is “amazed that it happened. He understands that he’s blessed to be where he is today.”
Trump specifically referenced a picture that New York Times’ photographer Doug Mills took that showed the bullet flying through the air and said that the doctor he spoke to said “if that bullet was a quarter of an inch different position, he would not be talking to that doctor today,” Baier went on.
After he got shot, Trump said he “really wanted to go back and say a couple of things, but the Secret Service had none of that,” Baier said, noting that the former president “wanted to express to the crowd that he was okay.”
Trump was transported to a nearby hospital Saturday night for a medical checkup. Afterwards, he flew to New Jersey.
New York Post