Donald Trump spoke to the Washington Examiner about the moments of the assassination attempt on him early Sunday morning (Greece time), in his first interview about what happened in Pennsylvania.
"The most incredible thing was that I happened not only to pivot, but to pivot at exactly the right time and to the right degree," Trump said in an interview on a flight to Milwaukee for the start of the Republican National Convention.
“If I only turn halfway, it hits the back of the brain. If I had turned the other way it would have gone straight through the skull. And since the signal was high, I look up. The chances of me making a perfect turn are probably one-tenth of 1%, so I shouldn't be here," said the former US president.
POV: The photographer who captured the iconic picture of Trump after the attempted assassination pic.twitter.com/jUU7yc2DjO
— Adrian Dittmann (@AdrianDittmann) July 14, 2024
“I had to be in exactly the right corner. Because the thing was barely far. That I would shoot at that exact second where he (the shooter) wouldn't stop shooting is pretty amazing. Quite amazing. I really shouldn't have been here," Trump continued of the life-saving move.
According to the publication, Trump had the kindest words about the Secret Service agents who covered for him while he was down on stage. At one point, in fact, he lifted his right sleeve and showed a bruise caused when the agents fell on him. “That's just from a guy who grabbed me. Do you know how strong you have to be to do that?'
Trump also described that he was the one who insisted on getting up and walking off the stage: "He told them, 'I have to walk off.' I didn't want to be dragged. I have seen this happen and it was not a good picture. I had no problem walking."
As he said, laughing, “I wanted to keep talking – I wanted to keep talking, but I was just shot. It was a very surreal experience and you never know what you're going to do until it happens."
Trump yelling “Fight. Fight,” after getting grazed by a bullet in the ear, an inch from ending his life.
No panic. No crawling on his knees to safety. The man stands up, faces the crowd, and yells “Fight.”
Historic footage. Just incredible.
— Lomez (@L0m3z) July 13, 2024
Trump also admitted that what happened in Pennsylvania is changing his election campaign. As he explained, before these events he had planned a very aggressive speech "but I threw it away. I think it would be too bad if I started saying how bad and corrupt everyone is, even if it's true. If this hadn't happened (including the assassination attempt) I would have had a speech that would have been very harsh. Now I will have a speech that will be more unifying."
“I would very much like to achieve unity, if that is possible. There are many good people on the other side… But there are also people who are divisive. Some really want open borders and some others don't want open borders. The question is, can these two sides come together? Can there be sides where there are people who want to see men play in women's sports and there's a side that doesn't even understand the concept of allowing that?''
Source: protothema.gr
