Washington
Two weeks after the fatal shooting at a campaign event in the US state of Pennsylvania, the Republican presidential candidate is stepping down Donald Trump a return to the scene of the attack. He did not provide details about the planned event in Butler.
At the same time, the Federal Police FBI It is understood that the ex-president was struck by a bullet in the gun attack. FBI Chief Christopher Wray had previously left that open. There were also rumors that Trump could have been struck by a piece of glass.
A gunman opened fire on July 13 during an outdoor campaign rally in the city of Butler, killing the 78-year-old. The assailant was killed by security forces. One attendee died and two others were wounded. Trump suffered a wound to his right ear. The incident was an escalation in the already heated U.S. election campaign.
Trump is angry about the FBI chief
The Republican addressed FBI Chief Wray in a series of messages on his online mouthpiece Truth Social on Friday afternoon (local time). The message was prompted by the FBI chief’s statement to a congressional committee in which he declined to rule on whether Trump’s ear was injured by a bullet or shrapnel. Trump wrote: “No, unfortunately it was a bullet that hit my ear, and hard. There was no glass or shrapnel.” Wray’s comments would harm the FBI, the Republican said.
Trump’s former personal physician from his time in the White House, Ronny Jackson, also spoke out, saying in a letter: “There is absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet.” Having served as an emergency physician in the U.S. Navy for more than two decades, he has treated many gunshot wounds during his career.
FBI responds to Trump’s outburst
Finally, the FBI responded with a statement Friday night (local time): “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, either whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, that was fired from the deceased’s gun,” the FBI said. Trump then wrote on Truth Social: “I suppose this is the best apology we will ever get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!”
Images of Trump with blood on his ear and some blood on his face – and a clenched fist at the same time – went viral after the attack. After the attack, Trump shouted “Fight, fight, fight!” which has now become something of a motto for his supporters. Now he wrote that he wanted to hold a “great and beautiful” rally in Butler. The time and place, however, were left open. “What a day it will be – fight, fight, fight!” the Republican wrote in all caps.
The event location is open
The New York Times recently reported that the Secret Service had advised Trump’s campaign team not to hold large outdoor events in the future. It was completely unclear where Trump’s announced campaign event in Butler would take place. After the attack, the 78-year-old performed in large venues.
The former president wore a white bandage around his ear for several days after the attack. At the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, which took place immediately after the attack, some supporters also put a kind of bandage around their ears in solidarity. Trump has now announced that he wants to commemorate the deceased firefighter and the two injured at the planned event in Butler. The Republican had kissed the victim’s fire helmet on stage during his speech at the party convention.
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